Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 4,003,484 shares, an increase of 36.2% from the March 15th total of 2,939,034 shares. Currently, 3.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,755,513 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $88.00 price objective on shares of Flowserve in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Flowserve from $83.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $90.00 price target (down from $100.00) on shares of Flowserve in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Wall Street Zen cut Flowserve from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, March 15th. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Flowserve in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.70.

Flowserve Trading Up 7.3%

Flowserve stock traded up $5.67 during trading on Friday, reaching $83.50. The company had a trading volume of 798,191 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,624,552. Flowserve has a 12-month low of $39.85 and a 12-month high of $92.41. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $80.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.04, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 2.03.

Flowserve (NYSE:FLS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. Flowserve had a net margin of 7.32% and a return on equity of 21.19%. Flowserve’s revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.70 earnings per share. Flowserve has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.000-4.200 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Flowserve will post 3.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Flowserve Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 10th. Investors of record on Friday, March 27th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 27th. This is an increase from Flowserve’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Flowserve’s payout ratio is 33.59%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Flowserve

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of Flowserve by 104.4% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,333,481 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $230,281,000 after purchasing an additional 2,213,406 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Flowserve by 67.8% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 4,146,917 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $220,367,000 after purchasing an additional 1,676,284 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Flowserve by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,230,118 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $171,648,000 after buying an additional 290,226 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Flowserve by 5.0% in the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,885,879 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $153,356,000 after purchasing an additional 136,867 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC grew its position in Flowserve by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen LLC now owns 2,777,288 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $192,688,000 after buying an additional 158,661 shares in the last quarter. 93.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Flowserve

Here are the key news stories impacting Flowserve this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks bumped several 2027 EPS forecasts for Flowserve (Q2, Q3, Q4 and FY) by small amounts — the firm now models FY2027 at $4.53/share — signaling slightly stronger forward earnings expectations. Zacks raises 2027 EPS estimates (MarketBeat)
• Positive Sentiment: Flowserve amended and restated its credit agreement to expand long‑term liquidity, reducing refinancing risk and improving financial flexibility — a clear fundamental positive for investors focused on balance‑sheet stability. Flowserve expands long-term liquidity (TipRanks)
• Positive Sentiment: A Zacks feature piece highlights Flowserve as a long‑term growth idea, which can help sentiment among style‑focused investors. Why Flowserve is a Top Growth Stock (Zacks)
• Neutral Sentiment: A Globe and Mail item notes a rating update from an analyst; the report appears informational without a clear buy/sell tilt. Rating update (Globe and Mail)
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks moved Flowserve from “Strong‑Buy” to “Hold” — a downgrade of the formal recommendation that could temper momentum despite the modelled EPS increases. Zacks rating change (Zacks.com)

Flowserve Company Profile

Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS) is a leading provider of fluid motion and control products and services. The company designs, manufactures and services engineered and industrial pumps, mechanical seals, valves and related flow management equipment. Flowserve’s offerings are utilized across a broad spectrum of end markets, including oil and gas, power generation, chemical processing, water management, pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing, as well as mining and general industrial applications.

Flowserve’s product portfolio encompasses a wide range of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, high-performance control valves, butterfly and ball valves, as well as mechanical seals and seal support systems.