National HealthCare (NYSE:NHC) Lowered to “Buy” Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of National HealthCare (NYSE:NHC) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Monday morning.

National HealthCare Stock Performance

National HealthCare stock opened at $93.38 on Monday. National HealthCare has a fifty-two week low of $87.03 and a fifty-two week high of $138.49. The company has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.70 and a beta of 0.45. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $100.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of $116.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a current ratio of 1.80.

National HealthCare Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.61%. National HealthCare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 37.31%.

Insider Transactions at National HealthCare

In other news, insider Health Corp National sold 28,147 shares of National HealthCare stock in a transaction on Friday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.71, for a total value of $3,200,595.37. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,056,616 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $120,147,805.36. The trade was a 2.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Timothy J. Shelly sold 614 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.44, for a total value of $74,564.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 13.75% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National HealthCare

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 396.3% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 268 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of National HealthCare by 809.1% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 400 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 356 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in National HealthCare by 378.0% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 564 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in National HealthCare during the fourth quarter valued at about $83,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in National HealthCare during the fourth quarter worth about $93,000. 56.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About National HealthCare

National HealthCare Corporation engages in the operation of services to skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, homecare and hospice agencies, and health hospitals. Its skilled nursing facilities offer licensed therapy services, nutrition services, social services, activities, and housekeeping and laundry services, as well as medical services prescribed by physicians; and rehabilitative services, such as physical, speech, respiratory, and occupational therapy for patients recovering from strokes, heart attacks, orthopedic conditions, neurological illnesses, or other illnesses, injuries, or disabilities.