Short Interest in Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST) Grows By 17.9%

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 4,090,000 shares, a growth of 17.9% from the February 13th total of 3,470,000 shares. Currently, 2.8% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,790,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days.

Sensata Technologies Price Performance

Shares of ST stock traded down $0.73 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $27.17. The stock had a trading volume of 2,198,774 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,648,127. The company has a market cap of $4.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 2.85, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Sensata Technologies has a 12-month low of $24.91 and a 12-month high of $43.14. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $27.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $30.98.

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.76. Sensata Technologies had a net margin of 3.27% and a return on equity of 17.54%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Sensata Technologies will post 3.21 earnings per share for the current year.

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Sensata Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 12th were paid a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. Sensata Technologies's payout ratio is currently 57.14%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sensata Technologies

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 738.7% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 931 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 820 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in Sensata Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 67.6% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,026 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 817 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Sensata Technologies by 61.2% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,714 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 651 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Sensata Technologies by 48.2% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 2,523 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 820 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.42% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on ST. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Sensata Technologies from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Sensata Technologies from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their price target on Sensata Technologies from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $39.08.

About Sensata Technologies

Sensata Technologies Holding plc develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and sensor-rich solutions, electrical protection components and systems, and other products used in mission-critical systems and applications in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Performance Sensing and Sensing Solutions.