National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EYE) Short Interest Update

National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EYE) was the target of a large growth in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,730,000 shares, a growth of 23.0% from the February 28th total of 5,470,000 shares. Approximately 8.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,500,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.5 days.

National Vision Trading Up 0.6 %

EYE stock traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $12.88. The stock had a trading volume of 1,305,386 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,578,542. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $12.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.57 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a PE ratio of -64.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 1.22. National Vision has a 12-month low of $9.56 and a 12-month high of $21.25.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National Vision

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. purchased a new position in shares of National Vision during the 4th quarter worth about $2,264,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of National Vision by 246.9% during the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 98,215 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,023,000 after acquiring an additional 69,906 shares in the last quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. boosted its position in shares of National Vision by 138.6% in the fourth quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 4,675,539 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,719,000 after buying an additional 2,715,582 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in National Vision by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 221,741 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,311,000 after purchasing an additional 33,155 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in National Vision in the 4th quarter worth $11,827,000.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on EYE. Barclays raised their target price on shares of National Vision from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on National Vision from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on National Vision from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on National Vision from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $14.00.

About National Vision

National Vision Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an optical retailer in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Owned & Host and Legacy. It offers eyeglasses and contact lenses, and optical accessory products; provides eye exams through its America’s Best, Eyeglass World, Vista Optical, Fred Meyer, and Vista Optical military, as well as Vision Center branded stores; and offers health maintenance organization and optometric services.