Short Interest in Haemonetics Co. (NYSE:HAE) Grows By 30.3%

Haemonetics Co. (NYSE:HAE) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,830,000 shares, a growth of 30.3% from the January 31st total of 5,240,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 792,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 8.6 days. Currently, 13.8% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Haemonetics Stock Performance

Shares of HAE traded up $0.92 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $68.08. 64,723 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,005,982. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $70.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $75.83. The company has a market cap of $3.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.77, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 2.55, a current ratio of 3.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. Haemonetics has a twelve month low of $58.80 and a twelve month high of $97.97.

Haemonetics (NYSE:HAE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.20 by ($0.01). Haemonetics had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 23.66%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Haemonetics will post 4.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Haemonetics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in Haemonetics by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 14,853 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,160,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Haemonetics by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 2,825 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $221,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Haemonetics by 25.6% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,176 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Haemonetics by 7.8% in the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 3,353 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versor Investments LP grew its position in Haemonetics by 9.1% in the third quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 3,600 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on HAE. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Haemonetics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Haemonetics in a research report on Friday, December 6th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $116.00 price objective for the company. Barrington Research decreased their target price on Haemonetics from $108.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $115.00 price target (down previously from $120.00) on shares of Haemonetics in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC decreased their price objective on shares of Haemonetics from $112.00 to $108.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Haemonetics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $101.67.

About Haemonetics

Haemonetics Corporation, a healthcare company, provides suite of medical products and solutions in the United States and internationally. The company offers automated plasma collection systems, donor management software, and supporting software solutions including NexSys PCS and PCS2 plasmapheresis equipment and related disposables and solutions, as well as integrated information technology platforms for plasma customers to manage their donors, operations, and supply chain; and NexLynk DMS donor management system and Donor360 app.