National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI) Receives $7.75 Consensus Price Target from Analysts

National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the five brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $7.70.

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut National CineMedia from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Wedbush reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $7.50 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Barrington Research decreased their target price on National CineMedia from $8.25 to $7.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. William Blair reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $7.50 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Friday. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $8.00 price target on shares of National CineMedia in a research report on Friday.

National CineMedia Price Performance

Shares of NCMI opened at $5.22 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $495.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -20.88 and a beta of 2.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.46. National CineMedia has a one year low of $3.70 and a one year high of $7.60. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $6.64 and its 200-day moving average is $6.80.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 6th. The business services provider reported $0.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.06. National CineMedia had a negative return on equity of 2.61% and a negative net margin of 9.49%. The business had revenue of $86.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $84.77 million. Equities analysts anticipate that National CineMedia will post -0.12 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at National CineMedia

In other National CineMedia news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of National CineMedia 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 66,987 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $436,085.37. The trade was a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National CineMedia

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of National CineMedia by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 107,069 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $711,000 after buying an additional 3,219 shares during the last quarter. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in National CineMedia in the 4th quarter worth approximately $408,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of National CineMedia by 240.5% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 721,697 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $5,088,000 after buying an additional 509,756 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of National CineMedia during the third quarter worth approximately $292,000. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in shares of National CineMedia by 23.8% during 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 purchasing an additional 222,498 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.49% of the company’s stock.

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.