National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Sets New 1-Year High – Time to Buy?

National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $7.46 and last traded at $7.38, with a volume of 14110 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.34.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on NCMI shares. B. Riley upped their price objective on shares of National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Barrington Research increased their target price on National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.25 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. StockNews.com raised National CineMedia from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $7.50 price target (up from $6.00) on shares of National CineMedia in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $8.00 price objective on shares of National CineMedia in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, National CineMedia has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $8.06.

National CineMedia Stock Performance

The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $6.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $6.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $696.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -29.36 and a beta of 2.07. The company has a quick ratio of 2.46, a current ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The business services provider reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $62.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $58.20 million. National CineMedia had a negative net margin of 9.49% and a negative return on equity of 2.61%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.33 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that National CineMedia, Inc. will post -0.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National CineMedia

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NCMI. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National CineMedia during the 2nd quarter worth about $56,000. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in National CineMedia during the third quarter worth approximately $97,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new stake in shares of National CineMedia during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $124,000. Hill Investment Group Partners LLC grew its position in shares of National CineMedia by 100.9% in the 2nd quarter. Hill Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 34,392 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $151,000 after buying an additional 17,276 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in National CineMedia by 7.9% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 42,835 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $188,000 after acquiring an additional 3,132 shares in the last quarter. 69.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.