Warren Buffett-backed Kraft Heinz stumbles after its 2nd-largest investor dumps more than 25 million shares (KHC)

REUTERS/Rick Wilking

• Kraft Heinz dropped as much as 3% early Tuesday after Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital Partners sold 25.1 million shares, slashing its stake by roughly 9%.
• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is the only firm with a greater investment in Kraft, holding about 26.7% of the company's shares.
• The sale follows a 16% drop for Kraft stock in August after the company reported a $1.2 billion write-down for several of its businesses.
• Watch Kraft Heinz trade live here.

Kraft Heinz sank as much as 3.4% early Tuesday after its second-largest investor sold 25.1 million shares.

3G Capital Partners slashed its stake by about 9% after selling the stock at $28.44 per share, a price 2.6% lower from Monday's close. The Brazilian private equity firm still owns 20% of Kraft.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is the only firm with a greater stake in the company, holding about 26.7% of Kraft stock.

The sale follows a 16% drop in Kraft stock in August after the company announced a $1.2 billion write-down for several of its businesses. The company also reported a large decline in sales over the first half of 2019, missing analyst expectations.

"The level of decline we experienced in the first half of this year is nothing we should find acceptable moving forward," Kraft CEO Miguel Patricio said in a statement. "We have significant work ahead of us to set our strategic priorities and change the trajectory of our business."

The company also faces an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into its finances. Kraft said in June it completed an internal review of its accounting practices.

Kraft closed at $29.62 per share Monday, down about 31% year-to-date.

The company has three "buy" ratings, 14 "hold" ratings, and five "sell" ratings from analysts, with a consensus price target of $29.61, according to Bloomberg data.

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