UPDATE: Goldman Sachs Initiates Coverage on WhiteWave Foods with Neutral Rating, $17.50 PT

In a report published Monday, Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on The WhiteWave Foods Company

with a Neutral rating and $17.50 price target. Goldman Sachs noted, “We initiate coverage of The WhiteWave Foods Company (WWAV) with a Neutral rating and a 12-month price target of $17.50 (17% upside). WWAV is well-positioned to capitalize on two key secular trends in beverage, premiumization and wellness, with leading brands in organic milk (Horizon), plant-based beverages (Silk) and coffee creamers (International Delight). We see WWAV delivering robust sales growth and improving margins, but see limited upside to valuation. We prefer Dean Foods (DF, Buy), which owns an 86.7% equity interest in WWAV and has additional upside optionality through its undervalued conventional milk business.” The WhiteWave Foods Company closed on Friday at $14.94.