UPDATE: Sterne Agee Downgrades Vitamin Shoppe on Slowed Traffic/NSP

In a report published Friday, Sterne Agee analyst Charles Grom downgraded the rating on Vitamin Shoppe (NYSE: VSI) from Buy to Neutral, and lowered the price target from $54.00 to $45.00.

In the report, Sterne Agee noted, “Once a model of consistency, something seems off with the VSI model as traffic has stalled and NSP has slowed considerably. While this isn't necessarily new news today, we don't have firm answers to many questions and with 1) a fickle consumer, 2) competitive pressures augmenting, and 3) peak EBIT, we can't identify a catalyst NT to jump-start VSI. Also, after scrubbing our model, the Street looks too high, so we adjust our EPS accordingly. Net, move to Neutral/PT to $45 from $54.”

Vitamin Shoppe closed on Thursday at $41.96.