Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. Lowers Stock Position in Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI)

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) by 23.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,837 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,578 shares during the quarter. Universal Technical Institute comprises approximately 1.7% of Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Technical Institute were worth $348,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Washington University bought a new position in Universal Technical Institute during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,886,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Universal Technical Institute by 3.6% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,840,356 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,041,000 after acquiring an additional 63,445 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its position in Universal Technical Institute by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 437,677 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,480,000 after acquiring an additional 11,286 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Universal Technical Institute in the fourth quarter worth approximately $949,000. Finally, Kennedy Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 2.4% in the third quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 74,516 shares of the company’s stock worth $624,000 after purchasing an additional 1,751 shares during the last quarter. 75.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Technical Institute Stock Up 0.5 %

Universal Technical Institute stock traded up $0.08 on Wednesday, hitting $16.46. 336,822 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 619,152. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market cap of $885.56 million, a P/E ratio of 45.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.26. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $15.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $14.55. Universal Technical Institute, Inc. has a 1 year low of $6.45 and a 1 year high of $17.09.

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 8th. The company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.15 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $184.18 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $177.01 million. Universal Technical Institute had a net margin of 2.97% and a return on equity of 10.55%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Technical Institute, Inc. will post 0.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Universal Technical Institute from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. B. Riley restated a “buy” rating and issued a $22.00 target price (up previously from $20.00) on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $20.00 target price on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $18.00 target price on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Monday, April 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Technical Institute currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $17.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Technical Institute

In other Universal Technical Institute news, Director Loretta Lydia Sanchez sold 6,288 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.22, for a total transaction of $95,703.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,712 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $208,696.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 27.60% of the company’s stock.

About Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute, Inc provides transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare education programs in the United States. The company operates in two segments, UTI and Concorde. It offers certificate, diploma, or degree programs under various brands, such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology.