Short Interest in Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:HWBK) Drops By 24.5%

Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:HWBK) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 7,100 shares, a decline of 24.5% from the February 13th total of 9,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 11,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days. Approximately 0.1% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Hawthorn Bancshares news, Director Jonathan Holtaway sold 2,682 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.91, for a total value of $88,264.62. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 366,598 shares in the company, valued at $12,064,740.18. The trade was a 0.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 23.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Hawthorn Bancshares

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares by 163.3% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 81,309 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,305,000 after buying an additional 50,429 shares in the last quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 73,532 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,085,000 after buying an additional 477 shares in the last quarter. Rhino Investment Partners Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,046,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 68,657 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,719,000 after buying an additional 6,955 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hawthorn Bancshares by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 28,496 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $808,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares in the last quarter. 30.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Hawthorn Bancshares Stock Up 3.9 %

HWBK opened at $28.51 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market cap of $199.20 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.92 and a beta of 0.60. Hawthorn Bancshares has a twelve month low of $17.86 and a twelve month high of $35.95. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $31.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.66.

Hawthorn Bancshares (NASDAQ:HWBK) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter. Hawthorn Bancshares had a net margin of 16.65% and a return on equity of 13.00%.

Hawthorn Bancshares Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Saturday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Hawthorn Bancshares’s payout ratio is currently 29.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Hawthorn Bancshares from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st.

Hawthorn Bancshares Company Profile

Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Hawthorn Bank that provides various banking services in the United States. It accepts checking, savings, money market, individual retirement, and other time deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company also offers commercial and industrial, single payment personal, installment, commercial and residential real estate, and consumer loans, as well as equipment, operating, and small business administration loans; and debit and credit cards.