Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC Buys New Position in Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ:QLYS)

Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ:QLYS - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 193,165 shares of the software maker's stock, valued at approximately $27,086,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC owned approximately 0.53% of Qualys at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Amalgamated Bank raised its stake in Qualys by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 16,640 shares of the software maker's stock valued at $2,333,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Qualys by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,749 shares of the software maker's stock worth $806,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in Qualys by 33.9% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 391 shares of the software maker's stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Qualys by 12.7% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,089 shares of the software maker's stock valued at $153,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Qualys by 15.6% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 932 shares of the software maker's stock worth $131,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.31% of the company's stock.

Qualys Stock Performance

Shares of Qualys stock opened at $128.16 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $125.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $135.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.66 billion, a PE ratio of 27.56 and a beta of 0.61. Qualys, Inc. has a 52 week low of $112.61 and a 52 week high of $171.00.

Qualys (NASDAQ:QLYS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The software maker reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by ($0.16). Qualys had a net margin of 28.59% and a return on equity of 38.52%. Research analysts forecast that Qualys, Inc. will post 3.85 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Qualys from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, April 12th. Northland Securities restated a "market perform" rating and set a $146.00 price target (down from $150.00) on shares of Qualys in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Qualys from $162.00 to $135.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Qualys in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their target price on Qualys from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Qualys currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $140.53.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Bruce K. Posey sold 540 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.86, for a total value of $63,644.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 64,513 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,603,502.18. This trade represents a 0.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Joo Mi Kim sold 4,487 shares of Qualys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.00, for a total transaction of $628,180.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 112,757 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,785,980. This represents a 3.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 26,138 shares of company stock valued at $3,519,970. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Qualys Company Profile

Qualys, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud-based platform delivering information technology (IT), security, and compliance solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers Qualys Cloud Apps, which include Cybersecurity Asset Management and External Attack Surface Management; Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response; Web Application Scanning; Patch Management; Custom Assessment and Remediation; Multi-Vector Endpoint Detection and Response; Context Extended Detection and Response; Policy Compliance; File Integrity Monitoring; and Qualys TotalCloud, as well as Cloud Workload Protection, Cloud Detection and Response, Cloud Security Posture Management, Infrastructure as Code, and Container Security.

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