Guild (NYSE:GHLD) Shares Gap Up - Should You Buy?

Guild Holdings Company (NYSE:GHLD - Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $15.72, but opened at $19.86. Guild shares last traded at $19.77, with a volume of 127,375 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on GHLD. Citigroup reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Guild in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. Citizens Jmp cut Guild from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen raised Guild to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Guild in a report on Friday. Finally, Compass Point cut Guild from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $16.50.

Guild Stock Up 0.2%

The company has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.64, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.81. 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 company has a 50 day moving average of $13.89 and a 200-day moving average of $13.49.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Guild

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GHLD. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Guild by 18.6% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 15,441 shares of the company's stock worth $218,000 after acquiring an additional 2,421 shares during the period. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Guild by 57.5% in the 4th quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 16,799 shares of the company's stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 6,134 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Guild by 8.3% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 22,421 shares of the company's stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 1,709 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Guild by 419.9% in the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 125,311 shares of the company's stock worth $1,768,000 after purchasing an additional 101,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Donald Smith & CO. Inc. lifted its position in Guild by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 344,742 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,864,000 after buying an additional 1,535 shares during the period. 17.52% of the stock is currently owned by 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.