Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 201,700 shares, an increase of 26.3% from the December 15th total of 159,700 shares. Currently, 6.4% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 124,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.6 days.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Paul Martin Purcell sold 2,401 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $465.72, for a total value of $1,118,193.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 58,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,139,833. The trade was a 3.96 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Kyle M. Brehm purchased 110 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $360.00 per share, with a total value of $39,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,718 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,338,480. This represents a 3.05 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 7,707 shares of company stock valued at $3,210,207. 57.65% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sezzle

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SEZL. Covestor Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Sezzle in the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sezzle during the 4th quarter valued at $80,000. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sezzle during the 3rd quarter valued at $165,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Sezzle in the 3rd quarter worth about $188,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers acquired a new position in Sezzle in the second quarter worth approximately $203,000. 2.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Sezzle Price Performance

Shares of SEZL traded up $2.94 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $262.51. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 275,471 shares, compared to its average volume of 143,577. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.40 and a quick ratio of 2.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.93 and a beta of 9.72. Sezzle has a fifty-two week low of $20.83 and a fifty-two week high of $477.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $327.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $204.76.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. B. Riley restated a “buy” rating and set a $372.00 price objective (up from $353.00) on shares of Sezzle in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Northland Securities raised their target price on Sezzle from $300.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th.

Sezzle Company Profile

Sezzle Inc operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the United States and Canada. The company provides payment solution in-store and at online retail stores; and through proprietary payments solution that connects consumers with merchants. It also offers Sezzle Platform that provides a payments solution for consumers that extends credit at the point-of-sale allowing consumers to purchase and receive the ordered merchandise at the time of sale while paying in installments over time; Pay-in-Four, which allows consumers to pay a fourth of the purchase price up front and then another fourth of the purchase price every two weeks thereafter over a total of six weeks; Pay-in-Full that allows consumers to pay for the full value of their order up-front through the Sezzle Platform without the extension of credit; and Pay-in-Two and other alternative installment options, which allow consumer to pay half of the value of their order up-front and the second half in two weeks.