Short Interest in RCI Hospitality Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:RICK) Decreases By 27.5%

RCI Hospitality Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:RICK) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 549,400 shares, a decline of 27.5% from the December 15th total of 758,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 90,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.1 days. Currently, 6.7% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

RCI Hospitality Trading Up 0.2 %

NASDAQ:RICK traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $52.32. 43,846 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 79,795. The stock has a market capitalization of $465.65 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 163.51 and a beta of 1.57. RCI Hospitality has a one year low of $37.61 and a one year high of $63.76. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $47.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

RCI Hospitality Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. RCI Hospitality’s dividend payout ratio is currently 87.50%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com downgraded RCI Hospitality from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $98.00 target price on shares of RCI Hospitality in a research report on Friday, January 10th.

Institutional Trading of RCI Hospitality

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in RCI Hospitality by 330.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 13,593 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $605,000 after purchasing an additional 10,433 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of RCI Hospitality by 1.0% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 196,913 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $8,772,000 after buying an additional 2,023 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in RCI Hospitality by 146.4% during the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 4,961 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $221,000 after buying an additional 2,948 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. lifted its holdings in RCI Hospitality by 254.1% in the third quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 694 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 498 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in RCI Hospitality by 20.0% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 13,507 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 2,252 shares during the last quarter. 53.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About RCI Hospitality

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the hospitality and related businesses in the United States. It operates in Nightclubs, Bombshells, and Media Group segments. The company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries own and/or operates upscale adult nightclubs serving primarily businessmen and professionals under the Rick's Cabaret, Jaguars Club, Tootsie's Cabaret, XTC Cabaret, Club Onyx, Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar, Scarlett's Cabaret, Temptations Adult Cabaret, Foxy's Cabaret, Vivid Cabaret, Downtown Cabaret, Cabaret East, The Seville, Silver City Cabaret, and Kappa Men's Club.