Guild (NYSE:GHLD) Shares Up 10.7% – Time to Buy?

Guild Holdings (NYSE:GHLD)’s share price shot up 10.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $13.15 and last traded at $13.45. 6,768 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average session volume of 11,590 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.15.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GHLD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Guild from $17.00 to $15.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Guild from $11.50 to $12.50 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $20.00 price target on shares of Guild in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Compass Point raised their price objective on shares of Guild from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $16.60.

Guild Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $855.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.92, a PEG ratio of 0.27 and a beta of 0.98.

Guild Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 14.46%. Guild’s dividend payout ratio is currently -64.52%.

Institutional Trading of Guild

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GHLD. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Guild by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 344,742 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,864,000 after acquiring an additional 1,535 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in shares of Guild by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 22,421 shares of the company’s stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 1,709 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Guild by 2.0% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 98,244 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,634,000 after buying an additional 1,901 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Guild by 18.6% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 15,441 shares of the company’s stock valued at $218,000 after buying an additional 2,421 shares during the period. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Guild by 57.5% in the 4th quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 16,799 shares of the company’s stock valued at $237,000 after buying an additional 6,134 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.52% of the company’s stock.

Guild Company Profile

Guild Holdings Company originates, sells, and services residential mortgage loans in the United States. It operates in two segments, Origination and Servicing. The company offers residential mortgages through retail and correspondent channels. Guild Holdings Company was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.