Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) Short Interest Update

Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,030,000 shares, an increase of 9.8% from the December 15th total of 2,760,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 400,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.6 days. Approximately 4.2% of the company's shares are short sold.

Healthcare Services Group Stock Performance

NASDAQ:HCSG traded down $0.22 on Friday, reaching $11.70. The company's stock had a trading volume of 291,831 shares, compared to its average volume of 393,663. Healthcare Services Group has a 1-year low of $8.98 and a 1-year high of $13.00. The business's 50-day moving average price is $11.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.24. The firm has a market cap of $857.49 million, a PE ratio of 16.96 and a beta of 0.56.

Healthcare Services Group (NASDAQ:HCSG - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.03. Healthcare Services Group had a return on equity of 12.59% and a net margin of 2.95%. The business had revenue of $428.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $429.95 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.17 EPS. Healthcare Services Group's revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Healthcare Services Group will post 0.81 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HCSG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and set a $17.00 target price on shares of Healthcare Services Group in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Macquarie initiated coverage on shares of Healthcare Services Group in a report on Monday, December 16th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $13.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com raised Healthcare Services Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Healthcare Services Group from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $13.80.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Healthcare Services Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HCSG. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in Healthcare Services Group by 100.8% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,137 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,073 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Healthcare Services Group by 804.0% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,730 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 2,428 shares in the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its position in shares of Healthcare Services Group by 85.7% in the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 8,180 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $91,000 after purchasing an additional 3,774 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Healthcare Services Group by 1,017.5% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,292 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,150,000 after purchasing an additional 9,371 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Healthcare Services Group in the third quarter valued at $116,000. 97.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Healthcare Services Group Company Profile

Healthcare Services Group, Inc provides management, administrative, and operating services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance, and dietary service departments of nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals in the United States. It operates through two segments, Housekeeping and Dietary.