Whitney Tilson On Rumor Of Bill Ackman Short Position In Whole Foods: 'This Is One Of The Dumbest Rumors I've Even Heard'

Speaking to Benzinga, Kase Capital Management Managing Partner Whitney Tilson said that a rumor of Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman taking a short position in Whole Foods Market, Inc. WFM is “one of the dumbest rumors” he’s ever heard.

Tilson said that he hasn’t spoken with Ackman about it, but mentioned that Ackman has publicly eschewed any more activist short campaigns.

Tilson added that Ackman also wouldn’t take another campaign on while the Herbalife Ltd. HLF one is still ongoing.

“Whole Foods is the exact opposite of the type of company that Bill would target,” Tilson said. “While the valuation looks a little rich, it has decent margins and returns on capital, a cash-rich balance sheet and generates large amounts of free cash flow.”

Whole Foods is trading 0.11 percent down during today’s session, while Herbalife is up 1.53 percent.

Brianna Valleskey contributed to this report.