Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) Short Interest Up 41.9% in May

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 723,400 shares, a growth of 41.9% from the April 30th total of 509,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 237,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.0 days. Approximately 2.7% of the company's stock are short sold.

Community Healthcare Trust Stock Performance

NYSE CHCT traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $16.40. 170,563 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 297,715. The company has a market capitalization of $464.69 million, a P/E ratio of -71.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.74. The business's 50 day moving average is $16.48 and its 200-day moving average is $18.07. Community Healthcare Trust has a 1 year low of $14.76 and a 1 year high of $27.62.

Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.02. Community Healthcare Trust had a negative net margin of 2.75% and a negative return on equity of 0.65%. The business had revenue of $29.73 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $29.71 million. Equities analysts predict that Community Healthcare Trust will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.47 per share. This is a positive change from Community Healthcare Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.46%. Community Healthcare Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -606.45%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Community Healthcare Trust from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 8th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Community Healthcare Trust currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $21.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Cathrine Cotman purchased 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was bought at an average price of $17.10 per share, with a total value of $51,300.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 23,861 shares in the company, valued at $408,023.10. The trade was a 14.38% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Horn R. Lawrence Van purchased 11,815 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $16.37 per share, for a total transaction of $193,411.55. Following the purchase, the director now owns 88,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,448,777.74. The trade was a 15.41% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 5.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Community Healthcare Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in Community Healthcare Trust by 15.5% during the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 21,506 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $413,000 after acquiring an additional 2,883 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 58.8% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 360,532 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $6,926,000 after purchasing an additional 133,482 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 1,232.9% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 603,674 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $11,597,000 after purchasing an additional 558,384 shares during the last quarter. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 31.7% during the 4th quarter. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC now owns 192,233 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $3,693,000 after purchasing an additional 46,217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Community Healthcare Trust by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 232,819 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $4,472,000 after buying an additional 14,972 shares in the last quarter. 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.