Chiquita logo close-up

Chiquita Brands International has been downgraded this week from a 'neutral' rating to an 'underperform' rating by Zacks Investment Research.

The group, a leading marketer and distributor of bananas and other fresh produce, was announced in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday 24 January.

Separately, analysts at Auiga initiated coverage on shares of Chiquita in a research note to investors in December, setting a 'buy' rating on the stock.

In the group's last set of financial results, for the third quarter of 2011, Chiquita reported net sales of US$723m (€551m) and a net loss of US$29m (€22.1m).