AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX) Receives Average Rating of "Strong Sell" from Analysts

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is negative: Five analysts covering AMC Networks have a consensus rating of "Strong Sell" (three sell, two hold) with an average 1‑year target price of $7.33.
• Mixed fundamentals: AMC beat quarterly estimates (EPS $0.64 vs. $0.50 and revenue $594.8M vs. $581.8M) despite a 0.8% YoY revenue decline, while shares trade around $8.26 with a market cap of $352.8M and a P/E of 6.03.

Shares of AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of "Strong Sell" from the five research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $7.3333.

AMCX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research raised shares of AMC Networks from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of AMC Networks from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of AMC Networks in a report on Wednesday, January 21st.

AMC Networks Stock Down 3.6%

Shares of AMCX opened at $8.26 on Thursday. AMC Networks has a 52 week low of $5.41 and a 52 week high of $10.27. The firm has a market cap of $352.78 million, a P/E ratio of 6.03 and a beta of 1.16. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $7.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.67.

AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $594.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $581.83 million. AMC Networks had a net margin of 3.87% and a return on equity of 11.32%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down .8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.64 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that AMC Networks will post 1.79 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at AMC Networks

In other AMC Networks news, CAO Michael J. Sherin III sold 5,963 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.96, for a total value of $47,465.48. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,648 shares of the company's stock, valued at $84,758.08. The trade was a 35.90% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 25.87% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of AMC Networks

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of AMC Networks in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $301,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of AMC Networks by 14.1% in the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 23,405 shares of the company's stock valued at $159,000 after buying an additional 2,885 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in shares of AMC Networks by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 29,598 shares of the company's stock valued at $283,000 after buying an additional 5,336 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new position in shares of AMC Networks in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $113,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of AMC Networks by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 267,020 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,542,000 after buying an additional 26,502 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.51% of the company's stock.

About AMC Networks

AMC Networks Inc NASDAQ: AMCX is a global entertainment company that specializes in the development, production and distribution of premium content for television and streaming platforms. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a portfolio of pay television channels in the U.S. and abroad, and offers direct-to-consumer streaming services that feature both original programming and licensed fare. AMC Networks is best known for critically acclaimed series such as “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men” and “The Walking Dead,” and it continues to invest in new scripted and unscripted content across a range of genres.

The company's core television networks in the United States include AMC, IFC, Sundance TV and WE tv, while its joint venture with BBC Studios supports BBC America.

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