Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) Short Interest Up 8.4% in December

Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 107,000 shares, an increase of 8.4% from the December 15th total of 98,700 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 34,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.1 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Elbit Systems from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elbit Systems

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Coastline Trust Co bought a new stake in Elbit Systems during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Point72 DIFC Ltd bought a new position in Elbit Systems in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Elbit Systems in the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Elbit Systems during the 3rd quarter valued at about $63,000. Finally, Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Elbit Systems by 49.1% during the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 158 shares during the period. 17.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Elbit Systems Trading Up 1.3 %

NASDAQ:ESLT traded up $3.91 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $297.82. 35,565 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 42,776. The company has a fifty day moving average of $257.56 and a 200 day moving average of $219.99. Elbit Systems has a 12 month low of $175.30 and a 12 month high of $298.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.91 and a beta of 0.52.

Elbit Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 6th. Investors of record on Monday, December 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a positive change from Elbit Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. Elbit Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.38%.

Elbit Systems Company Profile

Elbit Systems Ltd. develops and supplies a portfolio of airborne, land, and naval systems and products for the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation applications primarily in Israel. The company operates through Aerospace, C4I and Cyber, ISTAR and EW, Land, and Elbit Systems of America segments.