Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE:CPF) Short Interest Down 32.7% in February

Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE:CPF - Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 513,200 shares, a decline of 32.7% from the February 13th total of 762,300 shares. Currently, 1.9% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 214,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.4 days.

Central Pacific Financial Price Performance

Central Pacific Financial stock traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $27.29. 126,251 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 186,613. Central Pacific Financial has a 12-month low of $18.35 and a 12-month high of $33.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $28.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $28.94. The company has a market cap of $740.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.85 and a beta of 1.17.

Central Pacific Financial (NYSE:CPF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.09. Central Pacific Financial had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 12.03%. Equities analysts forecast that Central Pacific Financial will post 2.75 earnings per share for the current year.

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Central Pacific Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.27 dividend. This is a boost from Central Pacific Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.96%. Central Pacific Financial's payout ratio is 54.82%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Pacific Financial

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Picton Mahoney Asset Management purchased a new position in Central Pacific Financial during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Central Pacific Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of Central Pacific Financial during the 3rd quarter worth about $53,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Central Pacific Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new stake in Central Pacific Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $168,000. Institutional investors own 88.42% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com cut Central Pacific Financial from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 12th.

About Central Pacific Financial

Central Pacific Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Central Pacific Bank that provides a range of commercial banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and individuals in the United States. It offers various deposit products and services, including checking, savings and time deposits, cash management and digital banking, trust, and retail brokerage services, as well as money market accounts and certificates of deposit.