RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RICK) Short Interest Update

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 totaling 925,216 shares, a decline of 24.4% from the December 15th total of 1,224,205 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 120,374 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.7 days. Approximately 11.7% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 11.7% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 120,374 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.7 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On RCI Hospitality

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in RCI Hospitality by 62.0% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 847 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of RCI Hospitality by 1,256.9% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,954 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 1,810 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in shares of RCI Hospitality during the 4th quarter worth approximately $211,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of RCI Hospitality during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $115,000. Finally, Man Group plc purchased a new stake in RCI Hospitality in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $205,000. 53.82% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

RCI Hospitality Price Performance

NASDAQ RICK traded down $1.38 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $25.36. The stock had a trading volume of 80,960 shares, compared to its average volume of 85,606. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $24.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $30.09. The company has a market cap of $221.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.63 and a beta of 0.90. RCI Hospitality has a 52-week low of $21.88 and a 52-week high of $57.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

RCI Hospitality Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. RCI Hospitality’s payout ratio is 15.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d)” rating on shares of RCI Hospitality in a report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $98.00.

About RCI Hospitality

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc operates as a diversified hospitality and entertainment company focused on the ownership and operation of adult nightclubs and themed sports bars throughout the United States and select international markets. The company’s U.S. Nightclub segment includes venues branded as Rick’s Cabaret, Club Onyx and various other upscale adult entertainment clubs, offering private dance experiences, VIP services and live performances. Its Restaurant & Bar segment operates Bombshells, a brunch-themed sports bar chain featuring chef-driven menus, craft cocktails and game-day viewing in a military-inspired setting.

In addition to its brick-and-mortar venues, RCI Hospitality deploys proprietary digital platforms for talent recruitment, training and scheduling, helping to streamline operations and drive customer engagement.