NetScout Systems (NASDAQ:NTCT) Stock Price Down 2.6% - Here's What Happened

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT - Get Free Report) shares traded down 2.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $20.79 and last traded at $20.88. 52,738 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 541,417 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.43.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on NTCT shares. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of NetScout Systems from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised shares of NetScout Systems from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th.

NetScout Systems Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $22.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.88. The stock has a market cap of $1.47 billion, a PE ratio of -3.49 and a beta of 0.64.

NetScout Systems (NASDAQ:NTCT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The technology company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.04. NetScout Systems had a negative net margin of 50.90% and a positive return on equity of 6.76%. As a group, research analysts forecast that NetScout Systems, Inc. will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current year.

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Insider Activity

In related news, COO Michael Szabados sold 6,500 shares of NetScout Systems stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.47, for a total transaction of $152,555.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 35,989 shares of the company's stock, valued at $844,661.83. The trade was a 15.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John Downing sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.25, for a total transaction of $72,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 130,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,161,036. This trade represents a 2.25 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 21,499 shares of company stock worth $512,321. Insiders own 3.71% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of NetScout Systems

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in NetScout Systems by 1,214.4% during the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,367 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,263 shares during the period. Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of NetScout Systems by 316.8% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,513 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 1,150 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NetScout Systems by 32.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,964 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in NetScout Systems by 811.9% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 2,216 shares of the technology company's stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 1,973 shares during the period. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in NetScout Systems by 52.4% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 3,100 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 1,066 shares in the last quarter. 91.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NetScout Systems Company Profile

NetScout Systems, Inc provides service assurance and cybersecurity solutions for protect digital business services against disruptions in the United States, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers nGeniusONE management software that enables customers to predict, preempt, and resolve network and service delivery problems, as well as facilitate the optimization and capacity planning of their network infrastructures; and specialized platforms and analytic modules that enable its customers to analyze and troubleshoot traffic in radio access and Wi-Fi networks.