Short Interest in SLR Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:SLRC) Expands By 60.9%

SLR Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:SLRC) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 343,200 shares, an increase of 60.9% from the February 28th total of 213,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 176,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 0.6% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SLRC has been the subject of a number of research reports. Compass Point increased their price target on shares of SLR Investment from $16.50 to $17.25 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on SLR Investment from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $15.85.

SLR Investment Stock Down 0.3 %

NASDAQ:SLRC traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $17.15. 217,321 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 155,870. The company has a market cap of $935.70 million, a PE ratio of 9.69 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. SLR Investment has a one year low of $14.41 and a one year high of $17.94. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $17.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.31.

SLR Investment (NASDAQ:SLRC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. SLR Investment had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 40.89%. The company had revenue of $55.58 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $57.08 million. Equities analysts predict that SLR Investment will post 1.76 EPS for the current year.

SLR Investment Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.56%. SLR Investment’s payout ratio is presently 93.71%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SLR Investment

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in SLR Investment during the 3rd quarter valued at about $353,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of SLR Investment during the third quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Paloma Partners Management Co purchased a new position in SLR Investment in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $210,000. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in SLR Investment by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 15,541 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 2,022 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of SLR Investment by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 100,576 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,514,000 after purchasing an additional 11,510 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 35.32% of the company’s stock.

SLR Investment Company Profile

SLR Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in secured debt (first lien unitranche and second lien), subordinated (unsecured) debt, minority equity, leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, recapitalizations, general refinancing, growth capital and strategic income-oriented control equity investments in leveraged middle market companies.