Short Interest in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) Grows By 34.6%

Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,400,000 shares, an increase of 34.6% from the January 31st total of 1,040,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 685,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.0 days. Approximately 2.6% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on MOH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $350.00 price target (down previously from $378.00) on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $360.00 to $362.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays lowered their target price on Molina Healthcare from $372.00 to $339.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $345.00 price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Molina Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $354.92.

Molina Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MOH opened at $303.43 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $293.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $312.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a quick ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Molina Healthcare has a twelve month low of $262.32 and a twelve month high of $423.92.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $5.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.74 by ($0.69). Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 28.13% and a net margin of 2.90%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Molina Healthcare will post 24.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Colonial Trust Co SC lifted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 930.0% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 103 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in Molina Healthcare by 2,500.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 104 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in Molina Healthcare by 83.1% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 163 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Finally, Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the fourth quarter worth $55,000. 98.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Molina Healthcare Company Profile

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.