National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Shares Gap Down After Analyst Downgrade

National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped down before the market opened on Friday after Barrington Research lowered their price target on the stock from $8.25 to $7.00. The stock had previously closed at $6.35, but opened at $5.70. Barrington Research currently has an outperform rating on the stock. National CineMedia shares last traded at $5.56, with a volume of 190,589 shares.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of National CineMedia from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Wedbush reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $7.50 price objective on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $7.70.

Insider Buying and Selling at National CineMedia

In related news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.51, for a total value of $154,560.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 66,987 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $436,085.37. This represents a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.25% of the company's stock.

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Institutional Trading of National CineMedia

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in shares of National CineMedia by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 107,069 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $711,000 after purchasing an additional 3,219 shares during the period. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new stake in National CineMedia during the 4th quarter worth $408,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of National CineMedia by 240.5% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 721,697 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $5,088,000 after acquiring an additional 509,756 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of National CineMedia in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $292,000. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in National CineMedia by 23.8% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,157,488 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $8,160,000 after acquiring an additional 222,498 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.49% of the company's stock.

National CineMedia Stock Down 0.7 %

The firm has a market cap of $507.80 million, a P/E ratio of -21.40 and a beta of 2.19. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $6.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $6.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 2.46 and a quick ratio of 2.46.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 6th. The business services provider reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $86.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $84.77 million. National CineMedia had a negative return on equity of 2.61% and a negative net margin of 9.49%. On average, equities research analysts expect that National CineMedia, Inc. will post -0.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About National CineMedia

National CineMedia, Inc, through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. It engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies.