HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBT) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Key Points

• HBT Financial, Inc. experienced a 29.6% increase in short interest in August, rising to 103,000 shares, with a short-interest ratio of 3.4 days.
• Several analysts have adjusted their price targets for HBT Financial, with an average target now set at $28.80, reflecting a general sentiment of "Moderate Buy" for the stock.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share, indicating a dividend yield of 3.3% and a payout ratio of 34.71%.

HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBT - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totaling 103,000 shares, a growth of 29.6% from the July 31st total of 79,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 30,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.4 days. Currently, 0.9% of the company's stock are sold short. Currently, 0.9% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 30,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on HBT shares. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on HBT Financial from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded HBT Financial from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Raymond James Financial restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $30.00 target price (up previously from $24.00) on shares of HBT Financial in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. DA Davidson boosted their target price on HBT Financial from $23.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on HBT Financial from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HBT Financial presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $28.80.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of HBT Financial by 32.7% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,835 shares of the company's stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 452 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in HBT Financial by 906.9% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,249 shares of the company's stock worth $107,000 after purchasing an additional 3,827 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new stake in HBT Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $208,000. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System bought a new stake in HBT Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $223,000. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of HBT Financial during the 1st quarter worth approximately $264,000. 78.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HBT Financial Stock Down 1.6%

Shares of NASDAQ:HBT traded down $0.41 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $25.80. 15,662 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 33,161. The stock has a market cap of $812.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.66 and a beta of 0.66. HBT Financial has a fifty-two week low of $19.46 and a fifty-two week high of $27.02. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $25.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

HBT Financial (NASDAQ:HBT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 21st. The company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $58.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $59.45 million. HBT Financial had a return on equity of 13.98% and a net margin of 26.22%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.57 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that HBT Financial will post 2.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HBT Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 5th were issued a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 5th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. HBT Financial's payout ratio is presently 34.71%.

About HBT Financial

HBT Financial, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company that provides business, commercial, and retail banking products and services to individuals, businesses, and municipal entities in Central and Northeastern Illinois, and Eastern Iowa. The company's deposits accounts consist of noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposits, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts.

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