Afya (NASDAQ:AFYA) Stock Price Down 6.8% - Should You Sell?

Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 6.8% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $18.78 and last traded at $18.29. Approximately 113,654 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 124,728 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.61.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley cut Afya from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Afya from $25.00 to $20.50 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "sell" rating and issued a $15.00 price target (down previously from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a report on Friday, January 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Reduce" and an average target price of $17.60.

Afya Price Performance

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $18.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.00. The firm has a market cap of $1.83 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.60.

Afya Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 26th were paid a dividend of $0.232 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya's dividend payout ratio is 17.42%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFYA. Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Afya by 296.9% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its holdings in Afya by 40.0% in the fourth quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 2,800 shares of the company's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of Afya by 1,099.7% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,031 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 3,695 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Afya by 2,115.9% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,670 shares of the company's stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 6,369 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Afya by 47.6% during the fourth quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 9,300 shares of the company's stock valued at $148,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.02% of the company's stock.

Afya Company Profile

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.