Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC) Price Target Cut to $22.00 by Analysts at Citizens Jmp

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC) had its target price decreased by Citizens Jmp from $24.00 to $22.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Citizens Jmp currently has a market outperform rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Hercules Capital from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Hercules Capital from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Hercules Capital from $17.50 to $16.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Hercules Capital from $19.50 to $15.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Hercules Capital from $18.00 to $17.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hercules Capital currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $18.04.

Hercules Capital Price Performance

HTGC stock opened at $15.81 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. Hercules Capital has a 12 month low of $13.70 and a 12 month high of $19.67. The firm has a market cap of $2.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.64 and a beta of 0.83. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $14.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.00.

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.48. Hercules Capital had a net margin of 63.80% and a return on equity of 15.97%. The firm had revenue of $133.25 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $141.57 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.49 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Hercules Capital will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hercules Capital Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th were issued a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Hercules Capital’s payout ratio is 87.43%.

Insider Activity at Hercules Capital

In related news, Director Thomas J. Fallon purchased 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $14.20 per share, with a total value of $284,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 150,369 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,135,239.80. This trade represents a 15.34% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Scott Bluestein bought 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $14.35 per share, for a total transaction of $100,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 2,516,379 shares in the company, valued at $36,110,038.65. This trade represents a 0.28% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders purchased a total of 117,015 shares of company stock worth $1,749,620 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hercules Capital

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new stake in Hercules Capital during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new stake in Hercules Capital during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new stake in Hercules Capital during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new stake in Hercules Capital during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in Hercules Capital by 113.1% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,884 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. 19.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Hercules Capital News

Here are the key news stories impacting Hercules Capital this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record new commitments support growth and NIM — Hercules reported record new debt and equity commitments that should drive portfolio growth and higher net interest margin dollars, a constructive development for future earnings. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst backing remains constructive — Citizens Jmp lowered its price target from $24 to $22 but kept a “market outperform” rating, implying significant upside remains according to that shop. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Upcoming earnings date is a near-term catalyst — Hercules scheduled its Q1 2026 results and conference call for May 5; results and management commentary on portfolio credit quality and interest-rate sensitivity are likely to move the stock. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Market/valuation coverage — Recent write-ups review HTGC’s rebound and longer-term returns versus volatility; useful for value investors assessing whether current levels reflect risks and optionality. Article Title Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple class-action notices and law firms actively soliciting lead plaintiffs — Several firms have filed or are soliciting involvement in a securities class action covering May 1, 2025–Feb 27, 2026, with a May 19 lead-plaintiff deadline, creating legal overhang and potential litigation costs. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Shareholder suit alleges inflated NAV and hidden software risk — A separate shareholder complaint accuses the board of overstating NAV and concealing concentration/risks tied to software-heavy holdings, which could pressure NAV and investor confidence if proven. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Portfolio concentration and macro headwinds flagged — Analysts note ~35% portfolio exposure to software (AI disruption risk) and that potential Fed rate cuts could reduce net interest income despite Hercules’ efforts to lower rate sensitivity. Article Title

About Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital, Inc is a specialty finance company organized as a business development company (BDC) that provides tailored debt financing solutions to high?growth companies. Through its external management structure, Hercules Capital extends senior secured loans, subordinated debt and growth capital designed to support research and development, expansion initiatives and working capital needs. The firm primarily partners with venture capital and private equity sponsors to finance innovative enterprises across various developmental stages.

The company’s investment portfolio is concentrated in technology, life sciences and sustainable and renewable technology sectors, reflecting its focus on industries with strong growth prospects and recurring capital requirements.