Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Grows Stock Position in Forward Air Co. (NASDAQ:FWRD)

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Forward Air Co. (NASDAQ:FWRD - Free Report) by 148.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 285,670 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 170,503 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.99% of Forward Air worth $9,213,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Forward Air by 812.5% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 803 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 715 shares during the period. Byrne Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Forward Air by 122.9% during the 4th quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 1,070 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC grew its stake in shares of Forward Air by 155.9% during the 4th quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 2,925 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $94,000 after purchasing an additional 1,782 shares during the period. Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Forward Air during the 4th quarter worth $138,000. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new position in shares of Forward Air during the 4th quarter worth $235,000. 97.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Forward Air Price Performance

Shares of Forward Air stock traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $19.17. The company's stock had a trading volume of 434,172 shares, compared to its average volume of 847,552. Forward Air Co. has a 52-week low of $9.79 and a 52-week high of $40.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $17.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.64. The company has a market capitalization of $583.21 million, a P/E ratio of -0.80 and a beta of 1.24.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Forward Air from $35.00 to $32.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 31st. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Forward Air from $32.00 to $28.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Forward Air from $29.00 to $22.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $32.25.

Forward Air Company Profile

Forward Air Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an asset-light freight and logistics company in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Expedited Freight and Intermodal. The Expedited Freight segment provides expedited regional, inter-regional, and national less-than-truckload services; local pick-up and delivery services; and other services, which include shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage, and other handling.