Short Interest in Papa Johns International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) Drops By 30.9%

Papa Johns International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 3,810,000 shares, a decrease of 30.9% from the February 13th total of 5,510,000 shares. Approximately 11.9% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,560,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PZZA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Papa Johns International from $55.00 to $42.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Northcoast Research upgraded Papa Johns International to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Papa Johns International in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Papa Johns International in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Papa Johns International from $56.00 to $45.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Papa Johns International currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $55.67.

Institutional Trading of Papa Johns International

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its stake in Papa Johns International by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 62,056 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,549,000 after buying an additional 7,784 shares in the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Papa Johns International by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,117,238 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,885,000 after purchasing an additional 85,236 shares in the last quarter. Twinbeech Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Papa Johns International during the fourth quarter valued at about $2,988,000. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its stake in shares of Papa Johns International by 247.0% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 163,720 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,724,000 after purchasing an additional 116,538 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of Papa Johns International during the fourth quarter valued at about $87,000.

Papa Johns International Stock Up 8.2 %

NASDAQ:PZZA opened at $46.91 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $42.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.53 billion, a PE ratio of 16.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.16. Papa Johns International has a twelve month low of $35.28 and a twelve month high of $72.23.

Papa Johns International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. Papa Johns International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.02%.

Papa Johns International Company Profile

Papa John’s International, Inc engages in the operation and franchise of pizza delivery and carryout restaurants. It operates through the following segments: Domestic Company-owned Restaurants, North America Franchising, North America Commissaries, International Operations, and All Others. The Domestic Company-Owned Restaurants segment consists of retail sales of pizza and side items, breadsticks, cheese sticks, chicken poppers and wings, dessert items, and canned and bottled beverages.