Executives at Argos Holdings GP LLC and affiliated entities have recently sold a significant number of shares in Chewy Inc . (NYSE:CHWY), the popular online retailer of pet food and other pet-related products. The series of transactions, which took place on June 26 and 27, resulted in the sale of Chewy Inc. stock amounting to over $660 million.
The sales involved prices ranging from $28.49 to $33.00 per share. On June 26, a total of 17,550,000 shares were sold at an average price of $28.49 per share. The following day, sales continued with 2,590,319 shares sold at a weighted average price of $29.54, 1,923,702 shares at $30.13, 491,042 shares at $31.41, 294,380 shares at $32.39, and the final batch of 29,100 shares sold at an even $33.00 per share.
These transactions were conducted by multiple reporting owners, including Argos Holdings GP LLC, Argos Holdings L.P., CIE Management IX Ltd, BC Partners Holdings Ltd, and Citrus Intermediate Holdings L.P., all of which are entities that hold significant stakes in Chewy Inc. and are interconnected through various ownership and control relationships. Argos Holdings GP LLC is the general partner of Argos Holdings L.P., which is the sole common equity holder of Citrus Intermediate Holdings L.P. CIE Management IX Limited controls a majority of the equity interests in Argos Holdings GP LLC, and BC Partners Holdings Limited is the controlling shareholder of CIE.
The reporting entities have clarified through footnotes that the reported securities are held directly by affiliates and accounts they manage. They have also stated that the filing of this statement is not an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported securities, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.
This substantial divestment comes at a time when Chewy Inc.'s stock has been a focal point for investors interested in the e-commerce and pet care sectors. The company, known for its wide range of pet products and services, has experienced significant growth since its inception.
Investors and market watchers often look to insider transactions as a signal of the executives' confidence in the company's future prospects. The sale of shares by insiders can be influenced by various factors, including personal financial planning, diversification of assets, or views on the company's current valuation.
For those holding or considering an investment in Chewy Inc., these insider transactions provide important market information. The company's stock performance and future outlook remain areas of interest for shareholders and potential investors alike.
In other recent news, Chewy Inc. has entered into an agreement to buy back 17,550,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a 5% discount, totaling approximately $500 million. This transaction, slated for completion by June 27, 2024, is part of Chewy's capital allocation strategy. The company also reported strong first-quarter performance, with record-high gross and EBITDA margins, and robust Autoship sales.
Despite a slight decline in active customers, Chewy's second-quarter revenue is expected to align with Wall Street forecasts. The company has also reiterated its revenue guidance for fiscal year 2024 and raised its FY24 EBITDA margin guidance midpoint from 3.8% to 4.2%.
Several investment banking firms have adjusted their outlooks on Chewy. Jefferies raised its price target on the company to $31, citing Chewy's ability to scale up and achieve greater profitability. Barclays (LON:BARC) maintained its Overweight rating with a steady price target of $32. Mizuho Securities raised its price target for Chewy to $20, factoring in the company's introduction of a $500 million share repurchase program. Evercore ISI and Piper Sandler both increased their price targets to $22, following the company's strong first-quarter results and revised EBITDA forecast for the year.
InvestingPro Insights
Amid the recent insider selling at Chewy Inc. (NYSE:CHWY), investors are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market performance. The InvestingPro platform offers several insights that could be valuable for those tracking CHWY's investment potential.
One of the key InvestingPro Tips for Chewy Inc. points out that the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet. This is a comforting sign for investors, as it suggests a strong financial position and the ability to weather potential market downturns. Additionally, analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, indicating a positive outlook on the company's profitability.
Looking at the real-time metrics from InvestingPro, Chewy Inc. boasts a market capitalization of $11.89 billion. However, the company's P/E ratio stands at a lofty 140.05, which could raise concerns about the stock's valuation relative to earnings. Despite these concerns, the company has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with the last twelve months as of Q1 2023 showing a 7.19% increase to $11,234.81 million USD.
Investors interested in Chewy Inc. can find additional InvestingPro Tips on the platform, which currently lists a total of 14 additional insights. These tips provide a deeper dive into the company's financial performance, stock valuation, and market trends. To access these valuable insights, visit https://www.investing.com/pro/CHWY. Plus, use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, providing even more tools for making informed investment decisions.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.