Sprouts Farmers Market initiated with an Equal Weight at Barclays

Barclays initiated coverage of Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) with an Equal Weight rating and $173 price target The firm says the large grocers are trying to get a larger piece of a “shrinking food retail pie” as food share continues to shift to other channels. The neutral rating balanced a positive view of Sprouts’ growth story with high expectations and valuation, the analyst tells investors in a research note.