NetScout Systems (NASDAQ:NTCT) Stock Price Down 0.8% - Time to Sell?

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT - Get Free Report) was down 0.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $21.18 and last traded at $21.31. Approximately 41,873 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 435,329 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.48.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

NetScout Systems Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $22.83 and a 200-day moving average of $21.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.50 billion, a PE ratio of -3.56 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 1.81.

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

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Insider Buying and Selling

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NTCT. Covestor Ltd increased its position in NetScout Systems by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,606 shares of the technology company's stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 737 shares during the last quarter. Versor Investments LP acquired a new position in shares of NetScout Systems during the 3rd quarter valued at about $447,000. KBC Group NV increased its holdings in shares of NetScout Systems by 52.4% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its holdings in shares of NetScout Systems by 32.0% during the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 495,000 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $10,766,000 after acquiring an additional 120,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of NetScout Systems by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 28,296 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $615,000 after acquiring an additional 606 shares during the last quarter. 91.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.