HealthStream (NASDAQ:HSTM) Stock Bumped Up to "Hold" by Freedom Capital

Key Points

• Freedom Capital upgraded HealthStream to “Hold,” while analysts overall maintain an average “Hold” rating and a $27.00 price target. Other firms issued mixed views, including two recent upgrades to “Buy.”
• HealthStream shares opened at $33.65, near their 52-week high of $34.48, with a market capitalization of approximately $983 million. The company recently beat quarterly estimates, reporting $0.23 in earnings per share versus the $0.17 consensus and revenue of $83.73 million.
• CEO Robert Frist Jr. sold 144,068 shares worth approximately $4.25 million, while institutional investors own 69.58% of the stock. BlackRock established a new position valued at about $111.2 million during the second quarter.

HealthStream (NASDAQ:HSTM - Get Free Report) was upgraded by Freedom Capital to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, Zacks reports.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on HSTM. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on HealthStream from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of HealthStream from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of HealthStream from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $27.00.

HealthStream Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ HSTM opened at $33.65 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.48. HealthStream has a fifty-two week low of $19.50 and a fifty-two week high of $34.48. The company has a market capitalization of $983.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.74, a P/E/G ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.42.

HealthStream (NASDAQ:HSTM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The technology company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.06. HealthStream had a return on equity of 6.81% and a net margin of 6.60%. The company had revenue of $83.73 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $80.82 million. On average, analysts forecast that HealthStream will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at HealthStream

In other HealthStream news, CEO Robert Frist, Jr. sold 144,068 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.50, for a total transaction of $4,250,006.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 3,907,038 shares in the company, valued at approximately $115,257,621. This trade represents a 3.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 20.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HSTM. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of HealthStream during the second quarter valued at approximately $111,184,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC lifted its position in HealthStream by 43.8% during the first quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 1,276,739 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $26,441,000 after purchasing an additional 389,186 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in HealthStream in the second quarter worth approximately $6,199,000. Man Group plc purchased a new stake in HealthStream in the second quarter worth approximately $3,894,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in HealthStream in the second quarter worth approximately $3,349,000. 69.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

HealthStream Company Profile

HealthStream, Inc provides workforce solutions for the healthcare industry. The company develops software and services designed to help healthcare organizations manage employee learning, performance, credentialing, and other workforce-related processes.

Its offerings include online learning and education management, workforce development tools, competency and performance management, and credentialing solutions. HealthStream also provides content and administrative services intended to support regulatory compliance, professional development, and operational efficiency for healthcare employers.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HealthStream primarily serves healthcare organizations in the United States, including hospitals, health systems, medical practices, and other healthcare providers.

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