Short Interest in National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) Increases By 152.3%

National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) saw a significant increase in short interest in August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,700,000 shares, an increase of 152.3% from the August 15th total of 1,070,000 shares. Approximately 6.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 202,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 13.3 days.

National Health Investors Stock Performance

NHI traded up $1.01 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $83.85. 123,137 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 177,046. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $75.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.61 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 10.27, a quick ratio of 10.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. National Health Investors has a 1-year low of $48.51 and a 1-year high of $83.93.

National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.29). The company had revenue of $84.97 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $64.95 million. National Health Investors had a return on equity of 10.11% and a net margin of 39.11%. National Health Investors’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.06 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that National Health Investors will post 4.55 earnings per share for the current year.

National Health Investors Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Investors of record on Friday, September 27th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 27th. National Health Investors’s dividend payout ratio is presently 118.03%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on NHI shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on National Health Investors from $63.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. StockNews.com upgraded National Health Investors from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on National Health Investors from $65.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $63.75.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 23,707 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,324,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 12,152 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $823,000 after buying an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,979 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $222,000 after buying an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 6,404 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $434,000 after buying an additional 416 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in National Health Investors in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. 62.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Health Investors Company Profile

Incorporated in 1991, National Health Investors, Inc (NYSE:NHI) is a real estate investment trust specializing in sale, leasebacks, joint-ventures, senior housing operating partnerships, and mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical investments. NHI's portfolio consists of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty hospitals.