National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) Rating Increased to Strong-Buy at Robert W. Baird

Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

National HealthCare Stock Up 1.4%

NYSEAMERICAN NHC opened at $196.30 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $168.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $151.30. National HealthCare has a twelve month low of $93.54 and a twelve month high of $199.62. The company has a market capitalization of $3.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.94 and a beta of 0.64.

National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter. National HealthCare had a return on equity of 9.98% and a net margin of 8.10%.The business had revenue of $381.82 million for the quarter.

National HealthCare Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be issued a $0.67 dividend. This is an increase from National HealthCare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 30th. National HealthCare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.12%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of NHC. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of National HealthCare in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 171.9% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 261 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of National HealthCare in the fourth quarter worth about $42,000. Simplex Trading LLC increased its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 140.0% in the fourth quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 348 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 203 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 28.5% in the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 311 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.44% of the company’s stock.

National HealthCare Company Profile

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE American: NHC) is a healthcare services company specializing in long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation. The company operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and outpatient therapy clinics. Through its subsidiary, National HealthCare Partners, NHC provides contract rehabilitation services, pharmacy management and clinical consulting to a broad network of senior living and healthcare providers.

Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, National HealthCare Corporation has built a regional footprint across the southeastern and south-central United States.