Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFB) Short Interest Update

Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFB) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 324,200 shares, a growth of 5.6% from the December 15th total of 307,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 68,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.7 days. Currently, 3.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Bel Fuse Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ BELFB opened at $79.99 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $81.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 2.71 and a current ratio of 4.00. The firm has a market cap of $1.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.30. Bel Fuse has a 1 year low of $45.74 and a 1 year high of $92.61.

Bel Fuse Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be given a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.35%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 15th. Bel Fuse’s dividend payout ratio is currently 6.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on shares of Bel Fuse in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Northland Securities raised their price target on Bel Fuse from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. StockNews.com downgraded Bel Fuse from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 2nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on Bel Fuse from $79.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $98.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Joseph Francis Berry sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.30, for a total value of $80,300.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 8,023 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $644,246.90. This represents a 11.08 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Stephen Dawson sold 1,500 shares of Bel Fuse stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.65, for a total transaction of $116,475.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 14,832 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,151,704.80. The trade was a 9.18 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 5.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bel Fuse

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in Bel Fuse by 277.2% during the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 167,496 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $10,927,000 after purchasing an additional 123,092 shares during the period. Portolan Capital Management LLC grew its position in Bel Fuse by 122.8% during the third quarter. Portolan Capital Management LLC now owns 120,858 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $9,489,000 after acquiring an additional 66,621 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Bel Fuse by 11.6% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 276,265 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $18,024,000 after acquiring an additional 28,649 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its holdings in shares of Bel Fuse by 11.1% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 256,172 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $20,109,000 after purchasing an additional 25,607 shares during the period. Finally, Hodges Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Bel Fuse by 47.7% in the 3rd quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 75,785 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $5,950,000 after purchasing an additional 24,490 shares in the last quarter. 58.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Bel Fuse Company Profile

Bel Fuse Inc designs, manufactures, markets, and sells products that power, protect, and connect electronic circuits. The company’s products are used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation, and e-Mobility industries.