
Carl Icahn Ups Stake in Hain Celestial
NEW YORK (
) -- Activist Investor
Carl Icahn has stepped up his position in consumer products company
Hain Celestial
(HAIN) - Get Report
, according to the latest regulatory filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
.
Icahn Capital now holds 6.537 million shares in the company, up 30% from the 5.04 million shares last disclosed in the September quarter portfolio. Icahn, already the largest shareholder of the company, now owns about 15% of the total shares outstanding.
Hain, which makes natural and organic products, reported a 12% rise in revenues and profits in the September quarter, beating analyst estimates. The company expects fiscal 2011 earnings for $1.24 to $1.31 per share on sales of $1.025 billion to $1.05 billion. Analysts expect $1.27 per share on $1.03 billion revenue.
Argus Research recently upgraded the stock to a buy. Citi analyst Greg Badishkanian said the company is well placed to tackle rising commodity costs as it buys up its inventory in late spring early summer.
-- Written by Shanthi Bharatwaj in New York
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