Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ:ALHC) Stock Gets Price Target Cut from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ:ALHC) had its target price cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $22.00 to $10.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

ALHC has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Alignment Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Scotiabank set a $9.00 price target on Alignment Healthcare in a research note on Friday. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Alignment Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Zacks Research cut Alignment Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Alignment Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $19.18.

Alignment Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ALHC opened at $7.55 on Friday. Alignment Healthcare has a 52-week low of $6.01 and a 52-week high of $25.12. The company has a market capitalization of $1.57 billion, a PE ratio of 39.74 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 1.70. The company has a fifty day moving average of $11.49 and a 200-day moving average of $16.63.

Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ:ALHC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.04. Alignment Healthcare had a return on equity of 20.02% and a net margin of 0.89%. The company had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.31 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.07 EPS. Alignment Healthcare’s revenue was up 31.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Alignment Healthcare will post 0.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alignment Healthcare

In related news, EVP Joseph S. Konowiecki sold 23,511 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.61, for a total value of $202,429.71. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 1,080,305 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,301,426.05. The trade was a 2.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Hyong Kim sold 32,479 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.30, for a total transaction of $269,575.70. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 299,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,483,949.30. This represents a 9.79% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold a total of 1,061,967 shares of company stock worth $13,642,490 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Alignment Healthcare

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in Alignment Healthcare by 463.3% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,380 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 1,135 shares during the period. Nykredit A S bought a new stake in shares of Alignment Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Signature Equity Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alignment Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at about $46,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Alignment Healthcare by 46.6% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,368 shares of the company’s stock valued at $80,000 after buying an additional 1,070 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its stake in shares of Alignment Healthcare by 51,757.1% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 3,630 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 3,623 shares during the period. 86.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Alignment Healthcare

Here are the key news stories impacting Alignment Healthcare this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Six of Alignment Healthcare’s seven eligible Medicare Advantage contracts earned CMS 2027 ratings of 4 Stars or higher, including three plans rated 4.5 Stars. The contracts cover Arizona, California, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas. Alignment Healthcare Earns 4 Stars or Higher for Six of Seven Eligible Medicare Advantage Contracts
• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan lowered its price target from $22 to $10 but maintained an “overweight” rating, while KeyCorp reduced its target from $28 to $12 and also kept an “overweight” rating. These targets imply substantial upside from recent levels. Analyst Comments on Alignment Healthcare
• Neutral Sentiment: A reported October short-interest figure showed zero shares short and a zero-day days-to-cover ratio. That data suggests short covering is not a significant explanation for the session’s trading, although the figure appears inconsistent with the report’s description of a “significant increase.”
• Negative Sentiment: Alignment’s California H3815 HMO contract received a 3.5-Star rating, below the 4-Star threshold that can affect Medicare Advantage enrollment appeal and quality-related payments. The company disputes the result and plans to pursue administrative and legal remedies, but investors are concerned about potential effects on membership, revenue and future bonuses. Alignment Healthcare Stock Falls on 2027 Medicare Star Ratings
• Negative Sentiment: William Blair downgraded the stock to “Market Perform,” adding to the pressure from sharply reduced price targets. The market’s reaction indicates that the weaker California rating is outweighing the company’s otherwise strong plan-rating performance. William Blair Downgrades Alignment Healthcare
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Medical Officer Hyong Kim sold 32,479 shares to cover tax withholding on vested equity awards. The transaction is relatively small and tax-related, but it adds to investor scrutiny after recent insider selling. Alignment Healthcare Insider Share Sale

Alignment Healthcare Company Profile

Alignment Healthcare, Inc is a technology-enabled Medicare Advantage company focused on providing health coverage and care services for older adults. The company offers Medicare Advantage plans that combine medical benefits with care coordination, wellness support, and other services designed to help members manage their health.

Alignment operates through an integrated healthcare model that uses its proprietary technology platform to support physicians, care teams, and members. Its services include personalized care management, clinical coordination, virtual and in-home support, and member assistance through its concierge-style approach.