Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC) Short Interest Update

Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 3,840,000 shares, an increase of 39.1% from the February 13th total of 2,760,000 shares. Approximately 5.5% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 765,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.0 days.

Moelis & Company Price Performance

Shares of Moelis & Company stock traded up $0.38 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $60.56. 860,760 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 612,554. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.41 and a beta of 1.43. Moelis & Company has a 12-month low of $46.24 and a 12-month high of $82.89. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $71.52.

Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The asset manager reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.79. Moelis & Company had a net margin of 11.39% and a return on equity of 38.49%. On average, analysts forecast that Moelis & Company will post 2.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Moelis & Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.29%. This is a positive change from Moelis & Company's previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. Moelis & Company's payout ratio is currently 147.73%.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on the company. JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Moelis & Company in a report on Thursday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Moelis & Company from $86.00 to $75.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 14th. StockNews.com cut Moelis & Company from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $92.00 target price (up previously from $86.00) on shares of Moelis & Company in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Moelis & Company from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Moelis & Company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $71.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Moelis & Company

In related news, CEO Kenneth Moelis sold 9,712 shares of Moelis & Company stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.00, for a total value of $718,688.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 209,235 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,483,390. This trade represents a 4.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Osamu R. Watanabe sold 5,661 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.00, for a total transaction of $418,914.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 6,471 shares in the company, valued at $478,854. This trade represents a 46.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,721 shares of company stock valued at $1,677,017. Corporate insiders own 6.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Moelis & Company

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Atria Investments Inc raised its stake in shares of Moelis & Company by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 25,197 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $1,726,000 after purchasing an additional 1,107 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Moelis & Company by 35.2% during the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 12,248 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $839,000 after buying an additional 3,190 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Moelis & Company by 72.2% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 85,202 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $5,837,000 after buying an additional 35,713 shares during the period. KBC Group NV increased its position in shares of Moelis & Company by 24.4% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,068 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $142,000 after buying an additional 405 shares during the period. Finally, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Moelis & Company by 1.3% in the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,812 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $946,000 after buying an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.53% of the company's stock.

Moelis & Company Company Profile

Moelis & Co operates as a holding company. It engages in the provision of financial advisory, capital raising and asset management services to a client base including corporations, governments, sovereign wealth funds and financial sponsors. The firm focuses on clients including large public multinational corporations, middle market private companies, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs and governments.