Ethos Financial Group LLC Boosts Stock Position in Saratoga Investment Corp $SAR

Ethos Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Saratoga Investment Corp (NYSE:SAR) by 6.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 48,596 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,089 shares during the quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Saratoga Investment were worth $1,205,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Saratoga Investment by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 125,792 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,186,000 after acquiring an additional 3,497 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Saratoga Investment by 6.6% in the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 114,511 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,901,000 after purchasing an additional 7,110 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Saratoga Investment by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 88,665 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,246,000 after purchasing an additional 1,361 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP lifted its stake in shares of Saratoga Investment by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 66,974 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,696,000 after buying an additional 2,957 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Saratoga Investment by 21.4% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 39,926 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $990,000 after buying an additional 7,040 shares in the last quarter. 19.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Saratoga Investment Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE SAR opened at $21.84 on Friday. Saratoga Investment Corp has a twelve month low of $21.10 and a twelve month high of $26.49. The firm has a market cap of $351.76 million, a PE ratio of 9.33 and a beta of 0.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 7th. The financial services provider reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.67 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $30.63 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $32.39 million. Saratoga Investment had a net margin of 27.19% and a return on equity of 10.09%. Analysts expect that Saratoga Investment Corp will post 3.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Saratoga Investment Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 2nd. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.7%. Saratoga Investment’s payout ratio is currently 128.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SAR has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Zacks Research lowered Saratoga Investment from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Saratoga Investment to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Janney Montgomery Scott reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Saratoga Investment in a report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Saratoga Investment in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, B. Riley reduced their price objective on shares of Saratoga Investment from $23.50 to $23.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Saratoga Investment presently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $23.63.

About Saratoga Investment

Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity.