Activist targets: 2 holds and 1 buy

Article Excerpt

We pay close attention to the moves of activist investors as they tend to seek companies that can boost their value by spinning off or selling undervalued assets. We advise against buying Freshpet or Shake Shack right now, but activist pressure improves the prospects of Goodyear (see box). FRESHPET INC. $67 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol FRPT; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 48.1 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.freshpet.com) makes fresh, natural food for dogs and cats. Freshpet uses natural ingredients, cooking them in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve the natural goodness of the ingredients. The company first sold shares to the public at $15 each in November 2014. Activist firm Jana Partners owns 9.3% of Freshpet and is its largest shareholder. Jana aims to place four of its nominees on the board of directors at the company’s annual meeting in July 2023. The four candidates all have pet food experience. Jana also opposes the move by the…