National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) Upgraded to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Wedbush reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $7.50 price objective (up previously from $6.00) on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $8.00 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Barrington Research upped their price target on shares of National CineMedia from $7.50 to $8.25 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $8.06.

National CineMedia Stock Performance

NCMI opened at $6.23 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $6.83 and its 200 day moving average is $6.41. The company has a current ratio of 2.46, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The company has a market cap of $591.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -24.92 and a beta of 2.06. National CineMedia has a 12-month low of $3.65 and a 12-month high of $7.60.

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Maria Vg Woods sold 23,742 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.51, for a total value of $154,560.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 66,987 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $436,085.37. The trade was a 26.17 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National CineMedia

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NCMI. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of National CineMedia during the second quarter worth $979,000. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new stake in National CineMedia in the 2nd quarter worth $427,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National CineMedia by 20.4% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 89,555 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $393,000 after purchasing an additional 15,177 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of National CineMedia by 102.6% during the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 48,418 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 24,521 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd increased its holdings in shares of National CineMedia by 20.1% in the second quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 103,663 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $455,000 after purchasing an additional 17,325 shares during the last quarter. 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.