NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ:NXPI) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ:NXPI - Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,570,000 shares, a decrease of 16.5% from the February 28th total of 10,260,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,810,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days. Approximately 3.4% of the company's stock are short sold.

NXP Semiconductors Stock Performance

Shares of NXP Semiconductors stock traded down $11.07 on Friday, reaching $160.81. 6,448,979 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,476,330. NXP Semiconductors has a twelve month low of $155.87 and a twelve month high of $296.08. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $211.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $220.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.53, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.40.

NXP Semiconductors Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 19th will be issued a dividend of $1.014 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 19th. This represents a $4.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.52%. NXP Semiconductors's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.62%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Andrew Micallef sold 1,000 shares of NXP Semiconductors stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.86, for a total value of $204,860.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 8,828 shares in the company, valued at $1,808,504.08. The trade was a 10.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.11% of the company's stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. ORG Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of NXP Semiconductors by 915.4% during the 4th quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 132 shares of the semiconductor provider's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its position in NXP Semiconductors by 169.2% during the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 140 shares of the semiconductor provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co purchased a new position in NXP Semiconductors during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in NXP Semiconductors in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in NXP Semiconductors in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. 90.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NXPI shares. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of NXP Semiconductors from $235.00 to $225.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Mizuho upped their price objective on NXP Semiconductors from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley upgraded NXP Semiconductors from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $231.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of NXP Semiconductors from $280.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of NXP Semiconductors from $260.00 to $240.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $267.00.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors N.V. offers various semiconductor products. The company's product portfolio includes microcontrollers; application processors, including i.MX application processors, and i.MX 8 and 9 family of applications processors; communication processors; wireless connectivity solutions, such as near field communications, ultra-wideband, Bluetooth low-energy, Zigbee, and Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth integrated SoCs; analog and interface devices; radio frequency power amplifiers; and security controllers, as well as semiconductor-based environmental and inertial sensors, including pressure, inertial, magnetic, and gyroscopic sensors.