Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Raises Stock Holdings in Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM - Free Report) by 7.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 811,829 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 53,310 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 1.40% of Bright Horizons Family Solutions worth $89,991,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership bought a new stake in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the 4th quarter worth $91,536,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the fourth quarter worth about $79,578,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the fourth quarter worth about $71,842,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 29.0% during the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 2,370,336 shares of the company's stock valued at $262,752,000 after purchasing an additional 532,644 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,546,606 shares of the company's stock valued at $393,141,000 after buying an additional 511,905 shares in the last quarter.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions stock traded up $3.48 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $128.23. 269,151 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 442,062. The company has a market cap of $7.36 billion, a PE ratio of 53.43 and a beta of 1.31. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $122.74 and a 200-day moving average of $119.74. Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. has a 12 month low of $100.59 and a 12 month high of $141.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.61.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.91 by ($0.03). Bright Horizons Family Solutions had a return on equity of 13.63% and a net margin of 5.22%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. will post 3.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Mary Lou Burke sold 1,000 shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.36, for a total transaction of $125,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 31,449 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,942,446.64. This trade represents a 3.08 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Mary Ann Tocio sold 2,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.74, for a total value of $311,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 22,757 shares in the company, valued at $2,838,708.18. The trade was a 9.90 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 4,500 shares of company stock worth $561,900. Company insiders own 1.22% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on BFAM. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $102.00 to $100.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. StockNews.com raised shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $155.00 to $132.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $148.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $127.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bright Horizons Family Solutions presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $137.67.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc provides early education and childcare, back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India. The company operates in three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory and Other Services.