Investors Purchase High Volume of Put Options on Vipshop (NYSE:VIPS)

Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE:VIPS) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Stock traders acquired 6,624 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 379% compared to the typical volume of 1,384 put options.

Vipshop Stock Performance

Vipshop stock traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $15.91. 3,917,565 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,670,917. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $14.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.00. The company has a market cap of $8.17 billion, a PE ratio of 7.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.30. Vipshop has a 12 month low of $11.50 and a 12 month high of $20.19.

Vipshop (NYSE:VIPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The technology company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.70 by ($0.05). Vipshop had a return on equity of 20.89% and a net margin of 7.50%. The company had revenue of $4.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Vipshop will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Vipshop Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Friday, April 11th will be given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 11th. Vipshop’s payout ratio is 20.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Benchmark reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Vipshop in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Vipshop from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of Vipshop from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Vipshop from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $17.64.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vipshop

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VIPS. Lingohr Asset Management GmbH acquired a new position in shares of Vipshop in the 3rd quarter valued at $921,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in Vipshop by 179.5% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 3,984,082 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $62,670,000 after purchasing an additional 2,558,896 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vipshop by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,071,160 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $32,579,000 after acquiring an additional 162,027 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Vipshop by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 848,059 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $13,340,000 after buying an additional 75,590 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Vipshop by 19.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,748,730 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $27,508,000 after purchasing an additional 290,583 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 48.82% of the company’s stock.

About Vipshop

Vipshop Holdings Limited operates online platforms in the People's Republic of China. It operates in Vip.com, Shan Shan Outlets, and Others segments. The company offers womenswear, menswear, sportswear and sporting goods, shoes and bags, accessories, baby and children products, skincare and cosmetics, home goods and other lifestyle products, and supermarket products.