Short Interest in Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) Declines By 56.5%

Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 97,706 shares, a decrease of 56.5% from the January 15th total of 224,408 shares. Approximately 1.1% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 33,882 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.9 days. Based on an average daily volume of 33,882 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.9 days. Approximately 1.1% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norwood Financial

In related news, Director Joseph W. Carroll purchased 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were bought at an average price of $28.13 per share, for a total transaction of $112,520.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 41,503 shares in the company, valued at $1,167,479.39. This trade represents a 10.67% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director James Shook bought 3,500 shares of Norwood Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $28.80 per share, for a total transaction of $100,800.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 8,330 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $239,904. This represents a 72.46% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders bought 9,700 shares of company stock worth $274,770. Insiders own 9.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norwood Financial

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC acquired a new position in Norwood Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $4,679,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norwood Financial during the 2nd quarter worth $363,000. Fourthstone LLC acquired a new stake in Norwood Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $510,000. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norwood Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $289,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Norwood Financial by 32.8% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 9,923 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $252,000 after buying an additional 2,450 shares in the last quarter. 28.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NWFL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Stephens set a $33.00 price objective on Norwood Financial and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Norwood Financial in a report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Norwood Financial from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Norwood Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $33.00.

Norwood Financial Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of NASDAQ NWFL traded up $0.36 on Thursday, hitting $31.51. The company had a trading volume of 50,444 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,243. The business has a 50 day moving average of $29.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.16. Norwood Financial has a 12-month low of $21.25 and a 12-month high of $32.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $291.91 million, a P/E ratio of 10.54 and a beta of 0.60.

Norwood Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 15th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This is an increase from Norwood Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 15th. Norwood Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 42.81%.

About Norwood Financial

Norwood Financial Corporation is the bank holding company for Norwood Bank, a community-oriented financial institution headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 2010, the company oversees a network of branch offices serving suburban and metropolitan communities in eastern Massachusetts. Norwood Financial’s mission emphasizes personalized service, local decision-making and a commitment to supporting neighborhood growth.

The company’s primary business activities encompass a full suite of personal and commercial banking products and services.