Short Interest in WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS) Declines By 13.6%

WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 2,040,000 shares, a decline of 13.6% from the February 13th total of 2,360,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 496,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.1 days. Currently, 5.0% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WNS shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on WNS from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of WNS from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of WNS from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of WNS from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, WNS presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $61.63.

WNS Stock Up 1.9 %

WNS opened at $64.72 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $56.74 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.72. The company has a market capitalization of $2.99 billion, a PE ratio of 22.63, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.22. WNS has a 1-year low of $39.85 and a 1-year high of $65.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

WNS (NYSE:WNS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.15). WNS had a return on equity of 22.25% and a net margin of 10.03%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that WNS will post 3.8 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WNS. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans bought a new stake in WNS during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $61,726,000. Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of WNS by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 37,234 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,963,000 after purchasing an additional 6,433 shares during the period. Aurora Investment Counsel raised its position in shares of WNS by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Aurora Investment Counsel now owns 35,137 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,852,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of WNS during the 3rd quarter valued at $471,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in WNS by 90.0% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 67,333 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $3,549,000 after buying an additional 31,886 shares during the period. 97.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

WNS Company Profile

WNS (Holdings) Limited, a business process management (BPM) company, provides data, voice, analytical, and business transformation services worldwide. The company operates through TSLU, MRHP, HCLS, and BFSI segments. It engages in diversified business, including manufacturing, retail, consumer packaged goods, media and entertainment, and telecommunication; travel and leisure, utilities, shipping, and logistics; healthcare and life sciences; banking, financial services, and insurance; and Hi-tech and professional services, as well as procurement.