Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ:PNRA) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the twenty-four ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Market Beat Ratings reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fifteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $207.76.

In other news, Director Larry J. Franklin sold 364 shares of Panera Bread stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.00, for a total value of $67,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,479 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,863,615. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Domenic Colasacco sold 1,413 shares of Panera Bread stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.18, for a total transaction of $257,420.34. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,747 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,322,248.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Several hedge funds and institutional investors have bought and sold shares of PNRA. Janus Capital Management raised its position in Panera Bread by 36.2% in the third quarter. Janus Capital Management now owns 17,700 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,423,000 after buying an additional 4,700 shares during the period. Private Asset Management raised its position in Panera Bread by 19.4% in the fourth quarter. Private Asset Management now owns 9,385 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,828,000 after buying an additional 1,525 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its position in Panera Bread by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Creative Planning now owns 2,022 shares of the company’s stock worth $394,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Quantitative Systematic Strategies purchased a new position in Panera Bread during the fourth quarter worth about $1,192,000. Finally, Capstone Asset Management Company raised its position in Panera Bread by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Capstone Asset Management Company now owns 2,311 shares of the company’s stock worth $450,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter.

Panera Bread (NASDAQ:PNRA) opened at 194.00 on Monday. Panera Bread has a 1-year low of $153.00 and a 1-year high of $208.00. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $190.47 and a 200 day moving average of $186.78. The firm has a market cap of $4.93 billion and a P/E ratio of 32.94.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on PNRA shares. Piper Jaffray reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $225.00 price target on shares of Panera Bread in a report on Tuesday, November 17th. Longbow Research upgraded shares of Panera Bread from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 15th. Credit Suisse reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $215.00 price target (down previously from $220.00) on shares of Panera Bread in a report on Thursday, October 29th. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Panera Bread from $195.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Monday, November 2nd. Finally, Maxim Group lifted their price target on shares of Panera Bread from $210.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 4th.

Panera Bread Company (NASDAQ:PNRA) is a food service provider. Panera is a national bakery-cafe concept with 1,880 Company-owned and franchise-operated bakery-cafe locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario, Canada. The Company operates through three segments: Company Bakery-Cafe Operations, Franchise Operations, and Fresh Dough and Other Product Operations. As of December 30, 2014, its Company bakery-cafe operations segment consisted of 925 Company-owned bakery-cafes and its franchise operations segment consisted of 955 franchise-operated bakery-cafes, located throughout the United States and in Ontario, Canada. As of December 30, 2014, its fresh dough and other product operations segment, which supplies fresh dough and other products daily to the Company-owned and franchise-operated bakery-cafes, consisted of 24 fresh dough facilities (22 Company-owned and two franchise-operated), located throughout the United States and one in Ontario, Canada.

12 Month Chart for NASDAQ:PNRA

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