First Advantage (NYSE:FA) Shares Gap Down - Here's Why

Shares of First Advantage Co. (NYSE:FA - Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $18.58, but opened at $17.21. First Advantage shares last traded at $16.75, with a volume of 249,865 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on FA. Barclays lowered their target price on First Advantage from $22.00 to $20.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on First Advantage from $24.00 to $22.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of First Advantage in a research report on Friday. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of First Advantage in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $22.00 price objective on shares of First Advantage in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, First Advantage presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $53.29.

First Advantage Trading Down 4.9 %

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $18.46 and a 200 day moving average of $18.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 3.85 and a current ratio of 3.85. The company has a market capitalization of $2.46 billion, a PE ratio of 474.33 and a beta of 1.17.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FA. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in First Advantage by 15.3% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 6,267 shares of the company's stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 832 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets bought a new stake in First Advantage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $132,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new stake in First Advantage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $188,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in First Advantage by 1,219.4% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 10,555 shares of the company's stock worth $198,000 after acquiring an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA bought a new stake in First Advantage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $210,000. 94.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

First Advantage Company Profile

First Advantage Corporation provides employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions worldwide. It offers pre-onboarding products and solutions, such as criminal background checks, drug/health screening, extended workforce screening, FBI channeling, identity checks and biometric fraud mitigation tools, education/work history verification, driver records and compliance, healthcare credentials, executive screening, and other screening products.