Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) Stock Position Lowered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans trimmed its position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) by 39.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,553 shares of the company’s stock after selling 12,704 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Bright Horizons Family Solutions were worth $2,167,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,202 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,463,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Accretive Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Accretive Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,514 shares of the company’s stock valued at $833,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,425 shares of the company’s stock valued at $601,000 after buying an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 15,161 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,681,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 37.2% during the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 535 shares of the company’s stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Stock Performance

NYSE BFAM opened at $126.63 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $124.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $123.02. Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. has a 52-week low of $100.59 and a 52-week high of $141.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.61 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.76 and a beta of 1.50.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.91 by ($0.03). Bright Horizons Family Solutions had a net margin of 5.22% and a return on equity of 13.63%. Equities research analysts forecast that Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BFAM. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $162.00 to $142.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 27th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $148.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $102.00 to $100.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $155.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $137.67.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Mary Ann Tocio sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.74, for a total value of $311,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 22,757 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,838,708.18. This represents a 9.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Mary Lou Burke sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.69, for a total value of $124,690.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 33,449 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,170,755.81. This represents a 2.90 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc provides early education and childcare, back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India. The company operates in three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory and Other Services.