Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI) Short Interest Up 31.5% in February

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI) was the target of a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 15,040,000 shares, an increase of 31.5% from the January 31st total of 11,440,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,950,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.7 days.

Omega Healthcare Investors Stock Performance

NYSE OHI opened at $37.60 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.60 billion, a PE ratio of 24.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 7.07 and a current ratio of 7.07. Omega Healthcare Investors has a 52-week low of $29.66 and a 52-week high of $44.42. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $39.02.

Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE:OHI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.33. Omega Healthcare Investors had a net margin of 38.65% and a return on equity of 9.71%. On average, research analysts predict that Omega Healthcare Investors will post 2.86 EPS for the current year.

Omega Healthcare Investors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.13%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Omega Healthcare Investors’s dividend payout ratio is currently 172.90%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on OHI. BMO Capital Markets raised Omega Healthcare Investors from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $45.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $41.67.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in OHI. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Omega Healthcare Investors by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 15,864 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $646,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in Omega Healthcare Investors by 141.5% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,746 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $112,000 after purchasing an additional 1,609 shares during the period. Pure Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors in the third quarter valued at approximately $218,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 31,493 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,282,000 after buying an additional 526 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Omega Healthcare Investors in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.25% of the company’s stock.

Omega Healthcare Investors Company Profile

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc engages in the provision of financing and capital to the long-term healthcare industry with a particular focus on skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, rehabilitation and acute care facilities, and medical office buildings.