Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,430,000 shares, a growth of 9.2% from the January 15th total of 1,310,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 110,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 12.9 days. Currently, 10.7% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Afya in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set a “sell” rating and a $16.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup restated a “sell” rating and set a $15.00 price target (down previously from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Afya from $25.00 to $20.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Afya currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $18.00.

Afya Stock Performance

Shares of Afya stock opened at $17.68 on Monday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $15.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.55. The company has a market capitalization of $1.66 billion, a PE ratio of 14.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Afya has a 52 week low of $14.52 and a 52 week high of $22.24.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Afya

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in Afya by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 56,341 shares of the company’s stock valued at $895,000 after acquiring an additional 2,032 shares during the last quarter. PDT Partners LLC grew its position in Afya by 21.2% in the 4th quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 34,132 shares of the company’s stock valued at $542,000 after acquiring an additional 5,964 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Afya by 109.7% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 40,054 shares of the company’s stock valued at $636,000 after acquiring an additional 20,957 shares during the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Afya by 47.6% during the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 9,300 shares of the company’s stock worth $148,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Doma Perpetual Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Afya by 92.3% during the 4th quarter. Doma Perpetual Capital Management LLC now owns 567,109 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,006,000 after buying an additional 272,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.02% of the company’s stock.

About Afya

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.