Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) Short Interest Down 9.8% in January

Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,890,000 shares, a drop of 9.8% from the January 15th total of 9,860,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 13,270,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days. Approximately 0.3% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Barclays from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th.

Barclays Trading Up 2.2 %

NYSE BCS opened at $14.86 on Tuesday. Barclays has a 52 week low of $7.24 and a 52 week high of $15.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.67, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.35. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $13.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.11, a PEG ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.41.

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.15. Barclays had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 6.30%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Barclays will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Barclays Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.2737 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. This is an increase from Barclays’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.27. Barclays’s payout ratio is currently 20.41%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCS. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Barclays by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 9,476 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $126,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. Covenant Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Barclays by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Covenant Partners LLC now owns 102,166 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,358,000 after acquiring an additional 772 shares during the period. Choreo LLC increased its stake in shares of Barclays by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 46,860 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $623,000 after purchasing an additional 802 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Barclays by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 48,199 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $641,000 after purchasing an additional 874 shares during the period. Finally, Lake Street Advisors Group LLC lifted its stake in Barclays by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 40,500 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $538,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. 3.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Barclays

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.