Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 895,600 shares, a drop of 6.3% from the December 15th total of 955,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 590,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 1.6% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of BFAM stock traded down $0.20 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $117.47. 256,725 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 369,123. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.03 and a beta of 1.44. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $112.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.91. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has a 12-month low of $94.83 and a 12-month high of $141.90.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.05. Bright Horizons Family Solutions had a return on equity of 13.23% and a net margin of 4.44%. The company had revenue of $719.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $713.16 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.78 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Bright Horizons Family Solutions will post 3.01 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Bright Horizons Family Solutions

In other Bright Horizons Family Solutions news, Director Mary Ann Tocio sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.71, for a total value of $573,550.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 25,257 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,897,230.47. This trade represents a 16.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the 3rd quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 68.3% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 436 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $137.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com upgraded Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. BMO Capital Markets raised Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $137.00 to $125.00 in a report on Monday, November 18th. Baird R W raised Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $162.00 to $142.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.25.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Company Profile

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc provides early education and childcare, back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India. The company operates in three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory and Other Services.