National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Sell”

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued on Monday.

Several other research firms also recently commented on NCMI. Barrington Research raised their price target on shares of National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.25 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $8.00 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $7.50 price target (up previously from $6.00) on shares of National CineMedia in a report on Monday, November 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $8.06.

National CineMedia Trading Up 8.6 %

NASDAQ NCMI traded up $0.54 on Monday, hitting $6.80. 759,573 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 534,918. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $645.46 million, a P/E ratio of -27.20 and a beta of 2.06. National CineMedia has a 52-week low of $3.65 and a 52-week high of $7.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $6.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.53.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The business services provider reported ($0.04) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $62.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $58.20 million. National CineMedia had a negative return on equity of 2.61% and a negative net margin of 9.49%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.33 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that National CineMedia will post -0.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.51, for a total value of $154,560.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 66,987 shares in the company, valued at approximately $436,085.37. This trade represents a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National CineMedia

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rhumbline Advisers acquired a new position in shares of National CineMedia during the second quarter valued at about $427,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of National CineMedia by 240.5% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 721,697 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $5,088,000 after buying an additional 509,756 shares during the last quarter. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National CineMedia during the fourth quarter worth $408,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of National CineMedia during the third quarter valued at $292,000. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in shares of National CineMedia by 23.8% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,157,488 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $8,160,000 after acquiring an additional 222,498 shares during the period. 69.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

National CineMedia Company Profile

National CineMedia, Inc, through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. It engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies.