Why Vitamin Shoppe, Inc Stock Popped Today

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What:Shares ofVitamin Shoppe were up 11.3% as of 3:17 p.m. Wednesday after an SEC filing revealed a hedge fund has significantly increased its stake in the health-centric retail chain.

So what: Specifically, according to the filing, Carson Capital recently increased its stake in Vitamin Shoppe from 2.25% to 5.34%.

The filing also states Carson originally purchased the new shares "in the ordinary course of business because they believed that such shares ... were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity."

Now what:But perhaps most intriguing is thatCarson Capital notes it has held conversations with both Vitamin Shoppe's management and its board regarding "strategic alternatives and direction." Carson also indicates those discussions will continue, and that it "may take other steps seeking to bring about changes to increase shareholder value ..."

Of course, this doesn't guarantee Carson Capital's plan will bear fruit. But with shares of Vitamin Shoppe still down around 10% so far in 2015, it's apparent investors are pleased to have a motivated activist investor on their side. As such, while I'm not personally intrigued enough to dive, I can't blame the market for bidding up shares of Vitamin Shoppe today.

The article Why Vitamin Shoppe, Inc Stock Popped Today originally appeared on Fool.com.

Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.