Renaissance Technologies LLC Has $6.54 Million Stake in Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA)

Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Free Report) by 14.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 412,000 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 50,700 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned approximately 0.44% of Afya worth $6,543,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Afya during the third quarter worth $34,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Afya by 296.9% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,550 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Afya by 2,115.9% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,670 shares of the company's stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 6,369 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in shares of Afya by 41.9% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 9,677 shares of the company's stock worth $154,000 after buying an additional 2,856 shares during the period. Finally, Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Afya by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,682 shares of the company's stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 929 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.02% of the company's stock.

Afya Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of Afya stock traded down $0.20 on Thursday, reaching $18.21. 55,788 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 97,096. Afya Limited has a one year low of $14.52 and a one year high of $20.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a 50-day moving average of $17.50 and a 200 day moving average of $16.70. The company has a market capitalization of $1.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.68, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.66.

Afya Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 26th were given a $0.232 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.69%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on AFYA shares. Citigroup restated a "sell" rating and issued a $15.00 target price (down previously from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Afya from $25.00 to $20.50 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Afya from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price of $17.60.

Afya Company Profile

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.