Afya (NASDAQ:AFYA) Shares Up 4% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Afya Limited's stock price increased by 4%, trading at $15.52, despite a 67% decline in trading volume compared to its average daily volume.
• Analysts have mixed ratings for Afya, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $17.50, while Morgan Stanley and UBS Group issued positive price targets of $17.50 and $19.50, respectively.
• Hedge funds collectively hold 88.02% of Afya's stock, with significant equity increases by firms such as Doma Perpetual Capital Management and Renaissance Technologies in the latest quarters.

Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Get Free Report) rose 4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $15.53 and last traded at $15.52. Approximately 36,893 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 112,097 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.92.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on AFYA shares. Zacks Research raised Afya to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley set a $17.50 price objective on Afya and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $19.50 price objective (up previously from $17.50) on shares of Afya in a report on Thursday, June 12th. Citigroup raised shares of Afya from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $16.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Afya from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $17.50.

Afya Trading Down 2.0%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $16.07 and a 200-day moving average of $17.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $1.40 billion, a PE ratio of 11.33, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 0.53.

Institutional Trading of Afya

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in shares of Afya during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $829,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new position in shares of Afya in the 4th quarter worth approximately $228,000. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Afya during the first quarter valued at approximately $476,000. Yorktown Management & Research Co Inc acquired a new stake in Afya in the first quarter valued at approximately $321,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP increased its position in shares of Afya by 27.2% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 78,600 shares of the company's stock worth $1,248,000 after purchasing an additional 16,800 shares in the last quarter. 88.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.