National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Stock Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $6.61 and traded as high as $7.02. National CineMedia shares last traded at $6.82, with a volume of 377,210 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barrington Research lifted their target price on shares of National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.25 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Wedbush reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $7.50 price target (up from $6.00) on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of National CineMedia from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, January 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $8.06.

National CineMedia Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $625.52 million, a PE ratio of -26.36 and a beta of 2.06. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $6.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.62. 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The business services provider reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.01). National CineMedia had a negative return on equity of 2.61% and a negative net margin of 9.49%. The business had revenue of $62.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $58.20 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.33 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that National CineMedia, Inc. will post -0.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of the business'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 transaction of $154,560.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 66,987 shares in the company, valued at approximately $436,085.37. The trade was a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National CineMedia

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NCMI. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in National CineMedia by 20.4% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 89,555 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $393,000 after acquiring an additional 15,177 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in National CineMedia by 7.9% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 42,835 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $188,000 after purchasing an additional 3,132 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new stake in National CineMedia during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $124,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of National CineMedia by 141.2% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 30,929 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $218,000 after buying an additional 18,108 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OmniStar Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of National CineMedia in the third quarter worth $566,000. 69.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.