Short Interest in Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) Increases By 35.0%

Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,460,000 shares, an increase of 35.0% from the December 15th total of 8,490,000 shares. Currently, 0.3% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,350,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.0 days.

Barclays Stock Up 2.0 %

BCS opened at $14.28 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.67. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $13.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.42. Barclays has a 52 week low of $7.07 and a 52 week high of $14.29. The stock has a market cap of $51.51 billion, a PE ratio of 9.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.41.

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $8.52 billion for the quarter. Barclays had a return on equity of 6.30% and a net margin of 17.83%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.42 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Barclays will post 1.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on BCS shares. StockNews.com cut Barclays from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Barclays in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Barclays

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Barclays by 6.5% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,710,276 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $18,317,000 after buying an additional 104,617 shares during the period. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Barclays during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $149,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Barclays by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,358,375 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,258,000 after purchasing an additional 105,857 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Barclays by 190.9% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,661,086 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $39,210,000 after purchasing an additional 2,402,500 shares during the period. Finally, Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. bought a new position in shares of Barclays in the second quarter worth approximately $268,000. 3.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Barclays Company Profile

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.