Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Key Points

• Healthcare Realty Trust experienced a significant increase in short interest, rising by 28.5% in August to a total of 17,380,000 shares.
• The company recently cut its dividend to $0.24 per share, reflecting a negative payout ratio of -83.48%.
• Healthcare Realty Trust's stock is currently rated as a Hold by analysts, with a consensus target price of $17.20.

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totaling 17,380,000 shares, an increase of 28.5% from the July 31st total of 13,530,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,740,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.6 days. Based on an average daily volume of 3,740,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.6 days.

Healthcare Realty Trust Trading Up 2.7%

HR stock traded up $0.49 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $18.69. The stock had a trading volume of 5,502,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,200,722. Healthcare Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $14.09 and a 1-year high of $18.90. The company has a fifty day moving average of $16.54 and a 200 day moving average of $15.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.25 and a beta of 0.94.

Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE:HR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.01. Healthcare Realty Trust had a negative return on equity of 7.70% and a negative net margin of 32.95%.The company had revenue of $287.07 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $290.83 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.38 EPS. Healthcare Realty Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.570-1.610 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Healthcare Realty Trust will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Healthcare Realty Trust Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th were issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 14th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.1%. Healthcare Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is currently -83.48%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Healthcare Realty Trust

In other news, EVP Julie F. Wilson sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.00, for a total transaction of $270,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 113,419 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,041,542. This represents a 11.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Thomas N. Bohjalian bought 10,000 shares of Healthcare Realty Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $16.46 per share, with a total value of $164,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 75,520 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,243,059.20. The trade was a 15.26% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $38,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $48,000.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Healthcare Realty Trust from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Wall Street Zen lowered Healthcare Realty Trust from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Healthcare Realty Trust from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Finally, Scotiabank raised Healthcare Realty Trust from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and upped their price target for the company from $18.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $17.20.

About Healthcare Realty Trust

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc provides real estate investment services. It owns, leases, manages, acquires, finances, develops, and redevelops income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States of America. The company was founded by David R.

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