Short Interest in Hibbett, Inc. (NASDAQ:HIBB) Increases By 7.5%

() experienced a significant rise in short interest during April. On April 30, there were 1,570,000 shorted shares. This is an increase of 7.5% compared to the total of 1,460,000 on April 15. About 12.8% of shares in the company are short-sold. The days-tocover ratio currently stands at 5.9 days based on an average daily share volume of 264 400 shares.

Hibbett Stock Performance

The stock rose $0.03 to $50.16 during Monday's midday trading. Stock traded 236,422 more shares than its average of 262,464. The market cap is $639.39 Million, the PE ratio is 5.23, P/E/G is 0.45, and beta 1.58. The company has a simple fifty-day moving average of 58.60 dollars and a simple two hundred day moving average at $64.14. The company released its last quarterly earnings report on Friday, 3rd March. The company's earnings per share were $2.91, which was below the consensus estimate of $2.96. Revenue for the quarter was $458.30 millions, which is lower than analysts' expectations of 476.57 millions. Hibbett's net margin was 7.50%, and its return on equity was 38.15 percent. Revenue for the business increased 19.6% from a year ago. In the same quarter of the prior year, the company posted $1.25 in earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect Hibbett to post 9.61 EPS in the current fiscal.

Hibbett Dividend Announcement

A quarterly dividend was also declared by the firm and paid out on March 28th. Investors who had their records on the Thursday, March 16th received a $0.25 quarterly dividend. The ex-dividend day was March 15, 2013. This is a $1.00 dividend with a yield of 1.99%. Hibbett has a dividend payout ratio of 10.42%.

Analyst Upgrades and downgrades

HIBB stock has been the subject of recent comments from several analysts. Jefferies Financial group began covering Hibbett on March 14th in a report. They assigned a rating of 'hold' and set a price target of $69.00 for the company. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated its 'outperform rating' and set a price target of $80.00 on Hibbett shares in a report published on Monday, 6th March. In a report published on Thursday, Hibbett was upgraded from a "hold" rating to a "buy". Bank of America raised their price target on Hibbett to $85.00 in a report published on Tuesday, 7th March. Six analysts have given the stock a buy or hold rating. One analyst gave the stock a hold. MarketBeat.com data shows that the stock currently has a consensus rating 'Moderate buy' with a consensus price target of $78.80.

Insider Buying & Selling

On Monday, 10th April, 714 shares were sold in an exchange. The stock was bought at an average of $60.00 for a transaction totaling $42,840.00. After the sale was completed, the director owns 3,598 shares of the company valued at $335.880. Dorlisa Flur, a director at Hibbett, sold 714 shares in the company on Monday, 10th April. The stock was purchased at a price of $60.00 on average, for a transaction totaling $42,840.00. After the completion of this sale, the director owns 3,598 shares valued at $335.880. Terrance Finley, the director of the company, sold 5,605 stock shares in a deal on March 7th. The stock was bought at an average of $71.65, resulting in a value of $400,598.25. Insiders sold 14,473 shares worth $943,300 of the company's stock in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.90%.

Hedge Funds weigh in on Hibbett

Recently, several institutional investors and hedge fund have changed their holdings in the company. BlackRock Inc. increased their stake in Hibbett shares by 4.3% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. owns 2,065,251 of the company’s stock, valued at $102,869,000. This is after buying an additional 84 6,638 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Hibbett shares by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owns 916.055 shares worth $62,494,000, after buying an additional 72.157 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased their stake in Hibbett shares by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp owns 578.183 shares worth $25,272,000, after buying an additional 10,661 in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. has increased its stakes in Hibbett shares by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. owns now 525,106 of the company’s stock worth $35,823,000, after purchasing 8,018 additional shares in the last quarterly. Bronte capital management Pty Ltd. has increased its stake in Hibbett shares by 22.3% during the third quarter. Bronte Captial Management Pty. Ltd. owns now 463,695 of the company’s stock, valued at $23,097,000, after purchasing 84,676 additional shares in the last quarterly. Hedge funds and institutional investors hold 97.94% the company's shares.

About Hibbett

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Hibbett, Inc is a provider of sporting goods. The stores operate under the Hibbett Sporting Goods banners, and on an omnichannel platform. The company offers a wide range of products, including athletic footwear, apparel and accessories, as well as team sports equipment.

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