BNP Paribas Financial Markets Buys 49,606 Shares of Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC - Free Report) by 93.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 102,674 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 49,606 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.06% of Hercules Capital worth $2,063,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ares Management LLC grew its stake in Hercules Capital by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. Ares Management LLC now owns 226,606 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $4,553,000 after acquiring an additional 28,300 shares during the period. Left Brain Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Hercules Capital by 32.2% in the fourth quarter. Left Brain Wealth Management LLC now owns 275,876 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $5,542,000 after acquiring an additional 67,215 shares during the period. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Hercules Capital by 14.0% during the fourth quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 493,808 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $9,921,000 after buying an additional 60,776 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in shares of Hercules Capital during the fourth quarter worth about $14,871,000. Finally, Magnetar Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hercules Capital during the fourth quarter worth about $324,000. 19.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hercules Capital

In other news, Director Nikos Theodosopoulos bought 5,999 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $17.49 per share, with a total value of $104,922.51. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 11,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $209,180.40. This represents a 100.64% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.90% of the company's stock.

Hercules Capital Stock Up 0.5%

HTGC traded up $0.09 on Friday, hitting $17.40. 987,879 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,089,783. Hercules Capital, Inc. has a 12 month low of $15.65 and a 12 month high of $22.04. The company has a market cap of $3.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.81 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 2.72 and a current ratio of 2.72. The stock's fifty day moving average is $17.87 and its 200-day moving average is $19.20.

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $102.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.43 million. Hercules Capital had a net margin of 53.28% and a return on equity of 17.19%. Hercules Capital's quarterly revenue was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Hercules Capital, Inc. will post 1.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hercules Capital Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 13th were paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 13th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.20%. Hercules Capital's dividend payout ratio is 120.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Hercules Capital from $21.50 to $20.50 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Hercules Capital from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Hercules Capital from $23.00 to $20.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and set a $22.00 target price on shares of Hercules Capital in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Compass Point upped their target price on Hercules Capital from $18.25 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Hercules Capital currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $19.92.

Hercules Capital Profile

Hercules Capital, Inc is a business development company. The firm specializing in providing venture debt, debt, senior secured loans, and growth capital to privately held venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development from startups to expansion stage including select publicly listed companies and select special opportunity lower middle market companies that require additional capital to fund acquisitions, recapitalizations and refinancing and established-stage companies.