Investors Title (NASDAQ:ITIC) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Investors Title (NASDAQ:ITIC - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 20,500 shares, an increase of 20.6% from the February 28th total of 17,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 10,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Currently, 1.5% of the company's shares are sold short.

Investors Title Stock Performance

ITIC stock traded down $15.42 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $212.32. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,063 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,667. Investors Title has a 1 year low of $146.41 and a 1 year high of $290.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $400.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.92 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $233.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $240.43.

Investors Title (NASDAQ:ITIC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The insurance provider reported $4.41 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $70.63 million for the quarter. Investors Title had a net margin of 12.03% and a return on equity of 11.84%.

Investors Title Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 24th were issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 24th. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.87%. Investors Title's payout ratio is 11.20%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new stake in shares of Investors Title in the 4th quarter worth $47,000. FMR LLC lifted its stake in Investors Title by 73.6% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 479 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in Investors Title by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 540 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $124,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of Investors Title by 21.0% during the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 616 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $146,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Investors Title by 225.0% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 650 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $154,000 after buying an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. 41.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Investors Title from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, March 22nd.

About Investors Title

Investors Title Company engages in the issuance of residential and commercial title insurance for residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial properties. The company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer; and assumes the reinsurance of title insurance risks from other title insurance companies.