Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) Upgraded by StockNews.com to "Buy" Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Sunday.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on SAR. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered Saratoga Investment from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Saratoga Investment from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. B. Riley reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $25.00 price objective on shares of Saratoga Investment in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Compass Point cut their target price on shares of Saratoga Investment from $26.25 to $25.25 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $25.08.

Saratoga Investment Trading Up 0.6 %

Saratoga Investment stock traded up $0.16 during trading on Friday, hitting $25.41. The company's stock had a trading volume of 64,542 shares, compared to its average volume of 53,560. The stock's fifty day moving average is $24.59 and its 200 day moving average is $23.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. Saratoga Investment has a 1-year low of $21.56 and a 1-year high of $26.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $364.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.24 and a beta of 1.33.

Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.08. Saratoga Investment had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 15.53%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Saratoga Investment will post 3.93 EPS for the current year.

Saratoga Investment Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a None dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 4th were given a $1.09 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 11.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 4th. Saratoga Investment's payout ratio is 119.35%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Saratoga Investment by 8.4% during the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 9,885 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Saratoga Investment by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 32,845 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $786,000 after buying an additional 911 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in shares of Saratoga Investment in the 3rd quarter valued at about $116,000. Next Level Private LLC grew its position in shares of Saratoga Investment by 20.3% during the 3rd quarter. Next Level Private LLC now owns 39,154 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $908,000 after buying an additional 6,619 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Saratoga Investment by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 144,817 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $3,464,000 after acquiring an additional 6,632 shares during the period. 19.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Saratoga Investment Company Profile

Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity.