Guild Holdings (NYSE:GHLD) Short Interest Update

Guild Holdings (NYSE:GHLD) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 11,200 shares, a drop of 21.7% from the February 13th total of 14,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 8,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days. Approximately 0.1% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Compass Point lifted their target price on Guild from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Guild from $11.50 to $12.50 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $16.60.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Guild

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of GHLD. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Guild by 18.6% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 15,441 shares of the company’s stock worth $218,000 after acquiring an additional 2,421 shares during the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Guild by 57.5% during the fourth quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 16,799 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 6,134 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of Guild by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 22,421 shares of the company’s stock worth $316,000 after acquiring an additional 1,709 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Guild by 2.0% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 98,244 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,634,000 after acquiring an additional 1,901 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Guild by 419.9% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 125,311 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,768,000 after acquiring an additional 101,209 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.52% of the company’s stock.

Guild Stock Up 4.8 %

GHLD traded up $0.65 on Wednesday, hitting $14.08. The company had a trading volume of 14,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,593. Guild has a 12-month low of $11.21 and a 12-month high of $18.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $871.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.08, a P/E/G ratio of 0.27 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $12.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.10.

Guild Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 14.21%. Guild’s payout ratio is 64.94%.

Guild Company Profile

Guild Holdings Company originates, sells, and services residential mortgage loans in the United States. It operates in two segments, Origination and Servicing. The company offers residential mortgages through retail and correspondent channels. Guild Holdings Company was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.