National HealthCare (NYSE:NHC) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Strong-Buy” Rating

National HealthCare (NYSE:NHC) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report issued on Saturday.

National HealthCare Trading Down 1.1 %

NHC opened at $125.73 on Friday. National HealthCare has a 1 year low of $73.96 and a 1 year high of $138.49. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $123.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.94 billion, a PE ratio of 15.76 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Brian F. Kidd sold 2,000 shares of National HealthCare stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.01, for a total value of $260,020.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 21,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,827,327.47. The trade was a 8.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 13.75% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National HealthCare

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of National HealthCare by 4.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,593,829 shares of the company’s stock worth $150,633,000 after purchasing an additional 74,911 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of National HealthCare by 3.2% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,022,033 shares of the company’s stock worth $110,788,000 after purchasing an additional 31,697 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley Institutional Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of National HealthCare in the third quarter worth about $98,156,000. Systematic Financial Management LP increased its stake in shares of National HealthCare by 6.6% in the third quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 113,922 shares of the company’s stock worth $14,328,000 after purchasing an additional 7,011 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of National HealthCare by 123.0% in the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 87,350 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,469,000 after purchasing an additional 48,182 shares during the period. 56.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

National HealthCare Company Profile

National HealthCare Corporation engages in the operation of services to skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, homecare and hospice agencies, and health hospitals. Its skilled nursing facilities offer licensed therapy services, nutrition services, social services, activities, and housekeeping and laundry services, as well as medical services prescribed by physicians; and rehabilitative services, such as physical, speech, respiratory, and occupational therapy for patients recovering from strokes, heart attacks, orthopedic conditions, neurological illnesses, or other illnesses, injuries, or disabilities.