Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) Short Interest Up 54.9% in August

Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,200,000 shares, a growth of 54.9% from the July 31st total of 1,420,000 shares. Currently, 3.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 659,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.3 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $3.00 price target on shares of Diana Shipping in a report on Tuesday, May 28th.

Diana Shipping Stock Performance

NYSE:DSX remained flat at $2.44 during trading hours on Thursday. 279,395 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 667,148. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a current ratio of 2.14. The firm has a market cap of $304.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.07 and a beta of 1.14. Diana Shipping has a 52 week low of $2.35 and a 52 week high of $3.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.67 and a 200-day moving average of $2.86.

Diana Shipping (NYSE:DSX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The shipping company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.04). Diana Shipping had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 5.34%. The company had revenue of $52.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $58.55 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Diana Shipping will post 0.26 EPS for the current year.

Diana Shipping Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a $0.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.32%. Diana Shipping’s payout ratio is currently 136.36%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Diana Shipping

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in Diana Shipping during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Scott & Selber Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Diana Shipping during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Choreo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diana Shipping in the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV purchased a new position in Diana Shipping during the second quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in Diana Shipping in the 4th quarter valued at about $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 48.68% of the company’s stock.

About Diana Shipping

Diana Shipping Inc provides shipping transportation services. The company transports a range of dry bulk cargoes, including commodities, such as iron ore, coal, grain, and other materials in shipping routes worldwide. As of March 1, 2024, it operated a fleet of 38 dry bulk vessels, including 4 Newcastlemax, 8 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 9 Ultramax, and 6 Panamax.