Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) Coverage Initiated at StockNews.com

Research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the stock.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the company. Telsey Advisory Group reduced their target price on Big Lots from $2.50 to $1.50 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 5th. Loop Capital raised shares of Big Lots from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $1.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $2.50.

Big Lots Trading Down 40.2 %

BIG opened at $0.30 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 0.16. Big Lots has a fifty-two week low of $0.30 and a fifty-two week high of $8.41. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $0.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.20.

Institutional Trading of Big Lots

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new position in Big Lots during the second quarter worth $269,000. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in shares of Big Lots by 1,132.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 200,960 shares of the company’s stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 184,660 shares in the last quarter. Ground Swell Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Big Lots during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Big Lots by 46.7% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 37,421 shares of the company’s stock valued at $163,000 after buying an additional 11,915 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Big Lots by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,598,679 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,922,000 after buying an additional 56,540 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.96% of the company’s stock.

Big Lots Company Profile

Big Lots, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a home discount retailer in the United States. The company offers products under various merchandising categories, such as furniture category that includes upholstery, mattresses, home décor, case goods, and ready-to-assemble departments; seasonal category, which comprises patio furniture, gazebos, Christmas trim, lawn and garden, and other holiday departments; soft home category consists of apparel, hosiery, jewelry; frames, fashion and utility bedding, bath, window, decorative textiles, and area rugs departments; and food category that includes beverages and grocery, specialty foods, and candy and snacks departments.