Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRG) Short-term interest up 33.8% in February
Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRG – Get Rating) was the target of strong short-term interest growth in February. As of February 15, there were short interests totaling 1,170,000 shares, a growth of 33.8% from the total of 874,200 shares as of January 31. Based on an average trading volume of 245,900 shares, the short-term interest rate ratio is currently 4.8 days. Approximately 4.3% of the company’s shares are sold short.
FRG opened at $41.85 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt ratio of 1.81. The company has a market capitalization of $1.69 billion, a price/earnings ratio of 4.83, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.82. Franchise Group has a 52-week minimum of $31.29 and a 52-week maximum of $55.10. The company’s fifty-day simple moving average is $48.27 and its two-hundred-day simple moving average is $43.81.
Franchise Group (NASDAQ:FRG – Get Rating) last released quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 23. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77 for the quarter, beating Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.02. The company posted revenue of $942.80 million for the quarter, versus a consensus estimate of $849.32 million. Franchise Group achieved a net margin of 11.18% and a return on equity of 27.31%. The company’s revenue increased by 90.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.12) earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect Franchise Group to post an EPS of 4.97 for the current year.
The nascent lithium industry resembles the early days of the oil boom. In fact, lithium has been called the “new oil”. As internal combustion engines give way to lithium electric vehicle batteries, demand for the metal is skyrocketing. The United States is desperate for more domestic sources of lithium, and geologists are pointing to Nevada.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 15. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 1 will receive a dividend of $0.625. This represents an annualized dividend of $2.50 and a dividend yield of 5.97%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 31. Franchise Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.84%.
FRG has been the subject of several research reports. Aegis raised its price target on Franchise Group shares from $50.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a Tuesday, November 23 research report. Barrington Research raised its price target on Franchise Group shares from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, Dec. 8. B. Riley raised his price target on Franchise Group shares from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a Tuesday, November 23 research report. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded Franchise Group shares from a “buy” to a “hold” rating in a Monday, February 28 research report. One equity research analyst gave the stock a hold rating and five gave the company’s stock a buy rating. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus buy rating and a consensus target price of $58.00.
Major investors have recently been buying and selling shares of the company. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Franchise Group during the fourth quarter for a value of approximately $46,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in Franchise Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $65,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Franchise Group by 29.3% during the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,953 shares of the company worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 442 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Franchise Group by 7,203.7% during the third quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,972 shares of the company worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares during the period. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Franchise Group by 44.9% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,985 shares of the company worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 615 shares during the period. 47.41% of the shares are currently held by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About the Franchise Group (Get a rating)
Franchise Group, Inc. is a holding company that provides tax preparation and related services and products. It operates through the following segments: Vitamin Shoppe, American Freight, Liberty Tax and Buddy’s. The Vitamin Shoppe segment is an omnichannel specialty retailer of vitamins, herbs, specialty supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products.
See also
This instant alert was powered by MarketBeat’s narrative science technology and financial data to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reports. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat’s editorial team prior to publication. Please send questions or comments about this story to [email protected]
Should you invest $1,000 in Franchise Group right now?
Before you consider Franchise Group, you’ll want to hear this.
MarketBeat tracks Wall Street’s top-rated, top-performing research analysts daily and the stocks they recommend to their clients. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the market takes hold…and Franchise Group was not on the list.
Although Franchise Group currently has a “Buy” rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
See the 5 actions here