National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) Trading 10.7% Higher – Still a Buy?

Shares of National HealthCare Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) traded up 10.7% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $176.00 and last traded at $177.7190. 123,765 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 29% from the average session volume of 95,919 shares. The stock had previously closed at $160.61.

National HealthCare Trading Up 1.5%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $163.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $144.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.56 and a beta of 0.58.

National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter. National HealthCare had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 7.91%.The firm had revenue of $386.51 million during the quarter.

National HealthCare Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.64 per share. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. National HealthCare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 59.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National HealthCare

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NHC. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of National HealthCare in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP increased its holdings in National HealthCare by 171.9% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 261 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in National HealthCare in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Simplex Trading LLC increased its holdings in National HealthCare by 140.0% in the fourth quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 348 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in National HealthCare in the second quarter valued at about $58,000. 56.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About National HealthCare

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE American: NHC) is a healthcare services company specializing in long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation. The company operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and outpatient therapy clinics. Through its subsidiary, National HealthCare Partners, NHC provides contract rehabilitation services, pharmacy management and clinical consulting to a broad network of senior living and healthcare providers.

Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, National HealthCare Corporation has built a regional footprint across the southeastern and south-central United States.