Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 29,570,000 shares, an increase of 20.6% from the December 15th total of 24,520,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,720,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.2 days.

Avantor Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AVTR opened at $22.14 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.54. Avantor has a 52 week low of $19.59 and a 52 week high of $28.00. The firm has a market cap of $15.07 billion, a PE ratio of 48.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.28. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $21.45 and its 200-day moving average is $23.35.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVTR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $25.00 target price (down previously from $29.00) on shares of Avantor in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Avantor from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $34.00 target price on shares of Avantor in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Avantor from $28.00 to $25.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Avantor from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Avantor currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $27.38.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in shares of Avantor by 99.5% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,253 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 625 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. acquired a new stake in Avantor during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Avantor by 69.6% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,035 shares of the company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 835 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Avantor by 89.9% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,715 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares during the period. Finally, Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its position in shares of Avantor by 278.0% in the 3rd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 5,031 shares of the company’s stock worth $130,000 after purchasing an additional 3,700 shares during the period. 95.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Avantor

Avantor, Inc engages in the provision of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education and government, advanced technologies, and applied materials industries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers materials and consumables, such as purity chemicals and reagents, lab products and supplies, formulated silicone materials, customized excipients, customized single-use assemblies, process chromatography resins and columns, analytical sample prep kits, education and microbiology products, clinical trial kits, peristaltic pumps, and fluid handling tips.