Aegon NV (NYSE:AEG) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Aegon NV (NYSE:AEG) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in March. As of March 13th, there was short interest totaling 2,237,858 shares, a growth of 41.6% from the February 26th total of 1,580,614 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 6,150,917 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Aegon Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AEG traded up $0.08 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $6.94. The stock had a trading volume of 4,690,033 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,773,697. The company has a current ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The company has a market cap of $13.91 billion, a P/E ratio of -43.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.78. Aegon has a 1 year low of $5.42 and a 1 year high of $8.15. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $7.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.59.

Aegon Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a $0.2469 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a yield of 671.0%. Aegon’s payout ratio is presently -237.50%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Aegon in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in Aegon by 321.2% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 4,511 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 3,440 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its holdings in Aegon by 87.2% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,767 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 2,687 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its position in Aegon by 299.5% in the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 7,410 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 5,555 shares during the period. Finally, Independence Bank of Kentucky purchased a new stake in Aegon in the 3rd quarter worth about $64,000. 4.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on AEG shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Aegon in a report on Friday, January 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Aegon from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Aegon from a “buy (a-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Aegon from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Aegon in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. They set a “hold” rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Aegon has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy”.

Aegon Company Profile

Aegon N.V. is a multinational financial services company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, specializing in life insurance, pensions and asset management. Established in 1983 through the merger of AGO and Ennia, Aegon has built a reputation for offering retirement solutions, savings products and protection plans aimed at helping customers secure their financial futures. The company operates under well-known brands, including Transamerica in the United States, and serves both individual and corporate clients.

Throughout its history, Aegon has pursued strategic acquisitions and partnerships to strengthen its market position and broaden its service offerings.