Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Estimate for HTGC Earnings

Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research lowered their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Hercules Capital in a report issued on Wednesday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the financial services provider will post earnings per share of $0.50 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.51. The consensus estimate for Hercules Capital’s current full-year earnings is $2.02 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Hercules Capital’s Q1 2025 earnings at $0.49 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.49 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.50 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $1.98 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.50 EPS and Q2 2026 earnings at $0.50 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on HTGC. JMP Securities lifted their target price on Hercules Capital from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Hercules Capital from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price target on Hercules Capital from $22.00 to $22.50 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hercules Capital has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $20.40.

Hercules Capital Stock Down 1.5 %

HTGC opened at $18.53 on Friday. Hercules Capital has a fifty-two week low of $15.14 and a fifty-two week high of $21.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 1.61. The company has a market capitalization of $3.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.17 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $19.65 and a 200-day moving average of $19.68.

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51. Hercules Capital had a return on equity of 17.88% and a net margin of 65.07%. The company had revenue of $125.25 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.80 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share.

Hercules Capital Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 13th were given a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 13th. Hercules Capital’s dividend payout ratio is presently 79.21%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hercules Capital

In related news, CEO Scott Bluestein sold 100,000 shares of Hercules Capital stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.59, for a total value of $1,959,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,161,207 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $42,338,045.13. The trade was a 4.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hercules Capital

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wedbush Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 3.8% during the second quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 15,689 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 569 shares during the period. RMR Wealth Builders raised its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 3.5% during the second quarter. RMR Wealth Builders now owns 16,997 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the period. Morse Asset Management Inc raised its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 1.7% during the third quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc now owns 34,900 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $685,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. Founders Financial Alliance LLC raised its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 2.3% during the second quarter. Founders Financial Alliance LLC now owns 28,028 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $573,000 after purchasing an additional 627 shares during the period. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 2.7% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 27,319 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $540,000 after purchasing an additional 711 shares during the period. 19.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital, Inc is a business development company. The firm specializing in providing venture debt, debt, senior secured loans, and growth capital to privately held venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development from startups to expansion stage including select publicly listed companies and select special opportunity lower middle market companies that require additional capital to fund acquisitions, recapitalizations and refinancing and established-stage companies.