Top-Tier Executives at Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM) and Two Other Companies Are Piling Up Shares; Noteworthy Insider Trading at Other Companies

CFO of Struggling Natural Foods Retailer Buys Some Shares

A well-informed and influential member of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM)’s executive team also piled up some shares this week. Bradley Lukow, who joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in early March of 2016, bought 10,000 shares on Monday at prices varying from $19.41 to $19.48 per share. Following the transaction, Mr. Lukow currently owns a stake of 38,525 shares, which includes 18,525 restricted stock units.

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM), one of the largest specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, has seen its market cap drop by 27% since the beginning of the year. The natural foods retailer recently revised the third-quarter and full-year guidance downward because of a “prolonged deflationary environment, competitive landscape and industry dynamics.” Sprouts Farmers Market anticipates comparable store sales growth for the third quarter ending October 2 to be approximately flat, as compared to the previous forecast of growth in the range of 3%-to-4%. Adam Weiss’ Stillwater Investment Management reported ownership of 632,300 shares of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM) through the latest round of 13Fs.

CEO of High-Flying Producer of Distilled Spirits Purchases Shares

The man in charge of MGP Ingredients Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) bought some shares this past week. Augustus C. Griffin, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the company since late July 2014, snapped up 3,000 shares on Friday at prices that fell between $38.25 and $38.48 per share. After the recent purchase, Mr. Griffin currently holds a stake of 101,460 shares.

The shares of the producer and supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches have advanced an impressive 49% since the start of the year, but the company’s CEO keeps buying shares; this is great news for the current shareholders of MGP Ingredients. In early August, MGP Ingredients Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI)’s boardroom approved the initiation of a quarterly dividend policy by announcing a quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share. This step shows the company’s confidence in its ability to deliver positive cash flow streams ahead. The quarterly dividend yields 0.21% annually. There were seven hedge funds followed by Insider Monkey with long positions in MGPI at the end of the second quarter, as compared to five recorded at the end of the first quarter. In the latest round of 13F filings, Mark Broach’s Manatuck Hill Partners reported owning 162,600 shares of MGP Ingredients Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI).

The final page of this article will discuss noteworthy insider selling registered at two other companies.