Traders Purchase Large Volume of Children’s Place Put Options (NASDAQ:PLCE)

The Children’s Place, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Investors purchased 14,270 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 229% compared to the average volume of 4,333 put options.

Insider Activity

In other Children’s Place news, major shareholder Mithaq Capital Spc acquired 1,566,475 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $15.80 per share, with a total value of $24,750,305.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 4,663,743 shares in the company, valued at approximately $73,687,139.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 4.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Children’s Place

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Partnership Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Children’s Place by 80.3% during the first quarter. Partnership Wealth Management LLC now owns 129,660 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,496,000 after buying an additional 57,740 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Children’s Place by 8.5% during the fourth quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 8,793 shares of the company’s stock valued at $204,000 after buying an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Mithaq Capital SPC bought a new stake in shares of Children’s Place during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $7,999,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in Children’s Place in the fourth quarter worth $1,469,000. Finally, Meros Investment Management LP raised its stake in Children’s Place by 10.5% during the fourth quarter. Meros Investment Management LP now owns 149,199 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,464,000 after purchasing an additional 14,207 shares in the last quarter.

Children’s Place Trading Down 1.4 %

Children’s Place stock opened at $7.11 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Children’s Place has a 1 year low of $6.98 and a 1 year high of $38.03. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $14.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.56.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on PLCE. B. Riley downgraded shares of Children’s Place from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $19.00 to $4.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Children’s Place from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Monness Crespi & Hardt downgraded shares of Children’s Place from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price target on shares of Children’s Place from $24.00 to $13.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 12th.

Children’s Place Company Profile

The Children's Place, Inc operates as a children's specialty apparel retailer in North America. It operates through two segments, The Children's Place U.S. and The Children's Place International. The company offers apparel, footwear, accessories, and other items for children and tweens; and designs, contracts to manufacture, and sells merchandise under the proprietary The Children's Place, Place, Baby Place, Gymboree, Sugar & Jade, and PJ Place brand names.