Guild (NYSE:GHLD) Hits New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Guild Holdings Company shares reached a new 52-week high, trading as high as $23.57 before closing at $20.17, with a volume of 72,899 shares.
• Analysts have generally assigned a "hold" rating for Guild, with a consensus price target of $18.42, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price to $20.00.
• Recent movements in hedge fund positions include Wolverine Asset Management acquiring a new stake worth approximately $65,000, indicating increased institutional interest in Guild's stock.

Guild Holdings Company (NYSE:GHLD - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $23.57 and last traded at $20.17, with a volume of 72899 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.90.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on GHLD shares. Compass Point lowered Guild from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $19.00 to $20.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Guild from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $16.00 to $20.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised Guild to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Guild from $12.50 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, JMP Securities restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Guild in a research note on Friday, June 20th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $18.42.

Guild Stock Down 0.0%

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $18.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 0.07 and a quick ratio of 0.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.25 billion, a PE ratio of 51.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.94.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bayview Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Guild by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Bayview Asset Management LLC now owns 1,595,844 shares of the company's stock worth $22,517,000 after buying an additional 95,327 shares during the period. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. increased its position in shares of Guild by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 674,805 shares of the company's stock worth $9,521,000 after purchasing an additional 20,848 shares in the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. increased its position in shares of Guild by 4.5% during the first quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 657,132 shares of the company's stock worth $10,054,000 after purchasing an additional 28,482 shares in the last quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. increased its position in shares of Guild by 10.5% during the first quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 380,925 shares of the company's stock worth $5,828,000 after purchasing an additional 36,183 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Guild by 1.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 103,629 shares of the company's stock worth $2,050,000 after purchasing an additional 1,828 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.52% of the company's stock.

Guild Company Profile

Guild Holdings Company originates, sells, and services residential mortgage loans in the United States. It operates in two segments, Origination and Servicing. The company offers residential mortgages through retail and correspondent channels. Guild Holdings Company was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.