Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA) Stock Holdings Boosted by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Free Report) by 54.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 97,313 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 34,246 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned about 0.10% of Afya worth $1,545,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AFYA. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Afya by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,682 shares of the company's stock valued at $281,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Afya by 296.9% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in shares of Afya by 41.9% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 9,677 shares of the company's stock valued at $154,000 after acquiring an additional 2,856 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas purchased a new position in Afya in the 4th quarter valued at about $329,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Afya by 2,115.9% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,670 shares of the company's stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 6,369 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.02% of the company's stock.

Afya Stock Down 0.0%

NASDAQ AFYA traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $18.91. 79,422 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 111,289. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $18.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $17.04. Afya Limited has a 1-year low of $14.52 and a 1-year high of $19.90. The company has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.60.

Afya Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 26th were given a $0.232 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya's dividend payout ratio is currently 17.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on AFYA. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Afya from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $19.00 to $17.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Citigroup reissued a "sell" rating and set a $15.00 price target (down from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a report on Friday, January 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $17.60.

Afya Profile

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.