National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EYE) Short Interest Up 23.0% in March

National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EYE) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,730,000 shares, a growth of 23.0% from the February 28th total of 5,470,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,500,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.5 days. Approximately 8.7% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EYE has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on National Vision from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of National Vision from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Barclays raised their price objective on National Vision from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on National Vision from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, National Vision currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $14.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Vision

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EYE. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of National Vision in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of National Vision during the 3rd quarter valued at $45,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of National Vision by 309.2% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,906 shares of the company’s stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 3,707 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of National Vision by 87.5% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 7,050 shares of the company’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 3,291 shares during the period. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Vision in the fourth quarter valued at $150,000.

National Vision Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EYE traded down $1.30 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $11.58. 1,287,954 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,487,937. National Vision has a twelve month low of $9.56 and a twelve month high of $21.25. The firm has a market cap of $912.31 million, a P/E ratio of -57.90, a PEG ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 1.22. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $12.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.57 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

National Vision Company Profile

National Vision Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an optical retailer in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Owned & Host and Legacy. It offers eyeglasses and contact lenses, and optical accessory products; provides eye exams through its America’s Best, Eyeglass World, Vista Optical, Fred Meyer, and Vista Optical military, as well as Vision Center branded stores; and offers health maintenance organization and optometric services.