Guild (NYSE:GHLD) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Time to Buy?

Guild Holdings Company (NYSE:GHLD - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 38,310 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 108% from the previous session's volume of 18,461 shares.The stock last traded at $19.79 and had previously closed at $19.72.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on GHLD shares. Citigroup reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Guild in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Guild from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $12.50 to $12.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Guild to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Compass Point cut Guild from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and increased their target price for the company from $19.00 to $20.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, JMP Securities restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Guild in a report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $16.50.

Guild Stock Up 0.2%

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $13.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $1.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.64, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.81.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GHLD. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Guild by 419.9% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 125,311 shares of the company's stock worth $1,768,000 after buying an additional 101,209 shares during the period. Bayview Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Guild by 6.4% in the 4th 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. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. raised its position in shares of Guild by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 380,925 shares of the company's stock worth $5,828,000 after buying an additional 36,183 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Guild by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 628,650 shares of the company's stock worth $8,870,000 after buying an additional 31,540 shares during the period. Finally, Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Guild by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 674,805 shares of the company's stock worth $9,521,000 after buying an additional 20,848 shares during the period. 17.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Guild

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.