Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE:QUAD) Sees Significant Drop in Short Interest

Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE:QUAD) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 1,417,309 shares, a decrease of 15.3% from the February 12th total of 1,673,359 shares. Currently, 3.1% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 331,254 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 331,254 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.3 days. Currently, 3.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on QUAD shares. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their target price on Quad Graphics from $8.20 to $9.80 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Quad Graphics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Quad Graphics in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Quad Graphics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Quad Graphics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $9.90.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quad Graphics

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Drake & Associates LLC bought a new position in Quad Graphics in the 4th quarter worth about $157,000. Stokes Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Quad Graphics during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $68,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Quad Graphics during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $100,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Quad Graphics by 103.5% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 278,498 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,746,000 after purchasing an additional 141,648 shares during the period. Finally, Miller Value Partners LLC grew its stake in Quad Graphics by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Miller Value Partners LLC now owns 2,737,890 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $17,167,000 after purchasing an additional 114,415 shares in the last quarter. 39.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Quad Graphics Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE QUAD traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $6.64. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 21,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 189,821. Quad Graphics has a 12-month low of $4.50 and a 12-month high of $7.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52. The firm has a market cap of $347.01 million, a P/E ratio of 12.30 and a beta of 1.09. The business’s 50 day moving average is $6.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.21.

Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The business services provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36. The company had revenue of $630.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $632.90 million. Quad Graphics had a return on equity of 49.71% and a net margin of 1.12%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Quad Graphics will post 1.08 EPS for the current year.

Quad Graphics Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. This is a boost from Quad Graphics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Quad Graphics’s payout ratio is 74.07%.

Quad Graphics Company Profile

Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE: QUAD) is a global provider of print and related marketing services, serving a diverse range of clients in the publishing, retail, e-commerce and consumer packaged goods sectors. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span traditional print production, supply chain management and digital marketing support. Quad Graphics leverages a network of production facilities and distribution centers to deliver high-quality printed materials and integrated marketing programs that help clients reach their target audiences across multiple channels.

The company’s core offerings include magazine and catalog printing, direct mail, retail inserts, shopper marketing materials, custom packaging and point-of-sale displays.