Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSSC) Short Interest Up 32.0% in March

Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSSC) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,050,000 shares, an increase of 32.0% from the February 28th total of 2,310,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 537,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.7 days. Approximately 8.8% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Napco Security Technologies Stock Performance

NSSC stock traded down $0.08 during trading on Monday, hitting $23.02. 470,278 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 492,149. The company has a 50-day moving average of $27.15 and a 200-day moving average of $34.25. Napco Security Technologies has a 1 year low of $22.35 and a 1 year high of $58.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $837.95 million, a PE ratio of 17.71 and a beta of 1.59.

Napco Security Technologies (NASDAQ:NSSC) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $42.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $49.93 million. Napco Security Technologies had a return on equity of 27.65% and a net margin of 25.94%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Napco Security Technologies will post 1.24 EPS for the current year.

Napco Security Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Napco Security Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 38.46%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NSSC. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Napco Security Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Caption Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Napco Security Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Napco Security Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Napco Security Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $54,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Napco Security Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at $63,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.07% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NSSC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Lake Street Capital dropped their target price on Napco Security Technologies from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. TD Cowen cut Napco Security Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $46.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price target on Napco Security Technologies from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Craig Hallum cut Napco Security Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $28.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Napco Security Technologies from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $35.50.

About Napco Security Technologies

Napco Security Technologies, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells electronic security systems for commercial, residential, institutional, industrial, and governmental applications in the United States and internationally. Its access control systems include various types of identification readers, control panels, PC-based computers, and electronically activated door-locking devices; intrusion and fire alarm systems, consists of various detectors, a control panel, a digital keypad and signaling equipment; and door locking devices comprise microprocessor-based electronic door locks with push button, card readers and bio-metric operation, door alarms, mechanical door locks, and simple dead bolt locks.