Aveanna Healthcare (NASDAQ:AVAH) Shares Gap Up – Still a Buy?

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAH) gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $5.29, but opened at $5.56. Aveanna Healthcare shares last traded at $5.44, with a volume of 45,420 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on AVAH shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Aveanna Healthcare from $3.20 to $4.50 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, March 14th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Aveanna Healthcare from $6.00 to $5.25 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th.

Aveanna Healthcare Trading Up 3.2 %

The stock’s 50-day moving average is $4.65 and its 200-day moving average is $4.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.06 and a beta of 2.25.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder J.H. Whitney Equity Partners V sold 61,564 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.51, for a total transaction of $339,217.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,453,948 shares in the company, valued at $8,011,253.48. This represents a 4.06 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 7.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aveanna Healthcare

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new position in shares of Aveanna Healthcare during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets bought a new position in shares of Aveanna Healthcare during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 662.2% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 7,889 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 6,854 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd raised its stake in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 321.4% during the fourth quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd now owns 11,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 9,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Aveanna Healthcare during the fourth quarter valued at $57,000. 87.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Aveanna Healthcare Company Profile

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc, a diversified home care platform company, provides pediatric and adult healthcare services in the United States. Its patient-centered care delivery platform allows patients to remain in their homes and minimizes the overutilization of high-cost care settings, such as hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.