Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) Short Interest Update

Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,800,000 shares, a decline of 5.7% from the January 15th total of 2,970,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 407,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.9 days. Currently, 3.9% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Healthcare Services Group Price Performance

Shares of HCSG stock opened at $10.67 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $11.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.23. Healthcare Services Group has a one year low of $9.70 and a one year high of $13.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $782.00 million, a PE ratio of 19.76 and a beta of 0.56.

Healthcare Services Group (NASDAQ:HCSG) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.20 by ($0.04). Healthcare Services Group had a net margin of 2.30% and a return on equity of 11.76%. As a group, research analysts expect that Healthcare Services Group will post 0.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Macquarie assumed coverage on Healthcare Services Group in a research report on Monday, December 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $13.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com cut Healthcare Services Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $17.00 target price on shares of Healthcare Services Group in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Healthcare Services Group from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Healthcare Services Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $14.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Healthcare Services Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wealthfront Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Healthcare Services Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $166,278,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Healthcare Services Group by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,276,610 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $96,133,000 after buying an additional 23,373 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP lifted its stake in Healthcare Services Group by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 4,668,599 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $54,226,000 after buying an additional 219,103 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Healthcare Services Group by 8.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,964,325 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $33,112,000 after buying an additional 226,818 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Healthcare Services Group by 9.0% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,523,745 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $29,313,000 after purchasing an additional 208,810 shares during the period. 97.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Healthcare Services Group

Healthcare Services Group, Inc provides management, administrative, and operating services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance, and dietary service departments of nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals in the United States. It operates through two segments, Housekeeping and Dietary.