CSG Systems International, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGS) Sees Large Drop in Short Interest

CSG Systems International, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGS - Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,610,000 shares, a decrease of 11.5% from the January 15th total of 1,820,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 251,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.4 days. Currently, 5.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on CSGS. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of CSG Systems International from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Northland Securities restated an "outperform" rating and set a $80.00 price objective (up from $78.00) on shares of CSG Systems International in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of CSG Systems International from $51.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of CSG Systems International in a research report on Friday. They set a "buy" rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of CSG Systems International in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CSG Systems International has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $71.71.

CSG Systems International Price Performance

Shares of CSG Systems International stock traded down $0.28 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $64.01. 330,542 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 293,004. CSG Systems International has a 1 year low of $39.56 and a 1 year high of $65.53. The company has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.89. The business has a fifty day moving average of $55.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $51.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88.

CSG Systems International (NASDAQ:CSGS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The technology company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.20. CSG Systems International had a net margin of 7.25% and a return on equity of 39.42%. As a group, research analysts predict that CSG Systems International will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CSG Systems International Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 19th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 19th. This is a positive change from CSG Systems International's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. CSG Systems International's payout ratio is presently 39.47%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Independence Bank of Kentucky purchased a new stake in CSG Systems International in the fourth quarter valued at $80,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its position in CSG Systems International by 38.0% in the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 2,128 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 586 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in CSG Systems International in the third quarter valued at $294,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its position in CSG Systems International by 15.9% in the fourth quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 8,030 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the period. Finally, Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in CSG Systems International by 39.8% in the third quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 10,538 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $513,000 after purchasing an additional 3,001 shares during the period. 91.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CSG Systems International Company Profile

CSG Systems International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides revenue management and digital monetization, customer experience, and payment solutions primarily to the communications industry in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers Advanced Convergent Platform, a private SaaS platform; and related solutions, including service technician management, analytics, electronic bill presentment, etc.