National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday.

NCMI has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $8.00 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Barrington Research upped their price objective on shares of National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.25 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $7.50 target price (up previously from $6.00) on shares of National CineMedia in a report on Monday, November 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, National CineMedia presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $8.06.

National CineMedia Stock Down 3.5 %

NASDAQ NCMI opened at $6.01 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $6.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.41. The company has a quick ratio of 2.46, a current ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The firm has a market cap of $570.44 million, a PE ratio of -24.04 and a beta of 2.06. National CineMedia has a 52 week low of $3.65 and a 52 week high of $7.60.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The business services provider reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $62.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $58.20 million. National CineMedia had a negative return on equity of 2.61% and a negative net margin of 9.49%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.33 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that National CineMedia will post -0.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at National CineMedia

In other National CineMedia news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.51, for a total transaction of $154,560.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 66,987 shares in the company, valued at $436,085.37. This represents a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National CineMedia

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in National CineMedia by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 476,468 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,164,000 after acquiring an additional 7,130 shares in the last quarter. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National CineMedia in the 4th quarter valued at $408,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of National CineMedia by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,961,963 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $13,835,000 after purchasing an additional 15,605 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in shares of National CineMedia by 98.0% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 153,492 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,082,000 after purchasing an additional 75,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in National CineMedia by 23.8% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,157,488 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $8,160,000 after buying an additional 222,498 shares during the last quarter. 69.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About National CineMedia

National CineMedia, Inc, through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. It engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies.