Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 407,600 shares, a growth of 15.2% from the January 15th total of 353,700 shares. Approximately 2.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 142,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on MTD shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,350.00 to $1,400.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,362.00 to $1,369.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,550.00 to $1,450.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup raised shares of Mettler-Toledo International from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $1,200.00 to $1,300.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,450.00 to $1,475.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,368.00.

Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MTD traded down $23.70 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $1,273.44. 121,069 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 114,468. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.42, a PEG ratio of 4.80 and a beta of 1.13. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $1,284.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $1,337.41. Mettler-Toledo International has a twelve month low of $1,142.91 and a twelve month high of $1,546.93.

Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical instruments supplier reported $12.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $11.76 by $0.65. Mettler-Toledo International had a net margin of 22.29% and a negative return on equity of 564.51%. Analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International will post 41.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Mettler-Toledo International

In related news, insider Gerry Keller sold 600 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,351.34, for a total value of $810,804.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,108.04. This trade represents a 99.01 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.94% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mettler-Toledo International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MTD. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Mettler-Toledo International in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 242.9% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 24 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Mettler-Toledo International in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. bought a new stake in Mettler-Toledo International in the fourth quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Mettler-Toledo International in the fourth quarter valued at $54,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.07% of the company’s stock.

Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile

Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The company’s laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, real-time analytics, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments.