Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA) Shares Bought by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA) by 54.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 97,313 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 34,246 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Afya were worth $1,545,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFYA. Doma Perpetual Capital Management LLC increased its position in Afya by 92.3% during the fourth quarter. Doma Perpetual Capital Management LLC now owns 567,109 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,006,000 after buying an additional 272,200 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of Afya in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $829,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Afya by 14.0% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 412,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,543,000 after purchasing an additional 50,700 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Afya by 109.7% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 40,054 shares of the company’s stock valued at $636,000 after purchasing an additional 20,957 shares during the period. Finally, Teacher Retirement System of Texas acquired a new position in shares of Afya in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $329,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.02% of the company’s stock.

Afya Stock Up 0.7%

Afya stock opened at $19.49 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.60. Afya Limited has a 1-year low of $14.52 and a 1-year high of $20.06. The company has a market cap of $1.83 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.60. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $18.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.00.

Afya Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a — dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 26th were paid a $0.232 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on AFYA shares. Morgan Stanley lowered Afya from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $19.00 to $17.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Citigroup reissued a “sell” rating and issued a $15.00 target price (down previously from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a report on Friday, January 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $17.60.

About Afya

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.