Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) Short Interest Up 8.1% in October

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) was the target of a large growth in short interest in October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totalling 828,000 shares, a growth of 8.1% from the September 30th total of 766,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 480,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days.

Community Healthcare Trust Stock Performance

Community Healthcare Trust stock traded up $1.19 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $18.94. 503,334 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 278,989. Community Healthcare Trust has a 12-month low of $15.06 and a 12-month high of $29.16. The business has a fifty day moving average of $17.43 and a 200 day moving average of $21.32. The firm has a market cap of $524.66 million, a P/E ratio of 29.59, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.69.

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.465 per share. This represents a $1.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.82%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. This is a positive change from Community Healthcare Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Community Healthcare Trust’s payout ratio is 290.63%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on CHCT. StockNews.com lowered Community Healthcare Trust from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Community Healthcare Trust from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 9th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Community Healthcare Trust from $30.00 to $22.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Community Healthcare Trust from an “underperform” rating to an “inline” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $21.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $29.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $20.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO David H. Dupuy acquired 10,000 shares of Community Healthcare Trust stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $19.48 per share, with a total value of $194,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 363,565 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,082,246.20. The trade was a 0.00 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Robert Z. Hensley bought 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $19.50 per share, for a total transaction of $126,750.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 70,670 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,378,065. The trade was a 0.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO David H. Dupuy purchased 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $19.48 per share, with a total value of $194,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 363,565 shares in the company, valued at $7,082,246.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 4.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Community Healthcare Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in Community Healthcare Trust by 27.8% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 364,844 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $9,687,000 after buying an additional 79,421 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $933,000. Systematic Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 749,243 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $17,525,000 after purchasing an additional 55,558 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Community Healthcare Trust by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,951,903 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $78,373,000 after purchasing an additional 53,282 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LDR Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Community Healthcare Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $630,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.84% of the company’s stock.

About Community Healthcare Trust

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the Company”, we”, our”) was organized in the State of Maryland on March 28, 2014. The Company is a fully-integrated healthcare real estate company that owns and acquires real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems or other healthcare service providers.