Marshall Wace LLP Has $841,000 Stake in Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA)

Marshall Wace LLP reduced its stake in shares of Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Free Report) by 77.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,949 shares of the company's stock after selling 178,597 shares during the quarter. Marshall Wace LLP owned about 0.06% of Afya worth $841,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Afya by 118.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 73,098 shares of the company's stock worth $1,248,000 after buying an additional 39,592 shares in the last quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Afya by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,682 shares of the company's stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Afya by 296.9% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,550 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in shares of Afya by 41.9% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 9,677 shares of the company's stock valued at $154,000 after purchasing an additional 2,856 shares during the period. Finally, Teacher Retirement System of Texas bought a new stake in shares of Afya in the 4th quarter worth $329,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.02% of the company's stock.

Afya Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of Afya stock traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $19.12. The company's stock had a trading volume of 123,518 shares, compared to its average volume of 123,159. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.42, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.66. Afya Limited has a 1-year low of $14.52 and a 1-year high of $20.06. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $17.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $16.82.

Afya Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 26th were issued a dividend of $0.232 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya's dividend payout ratio is 17.69%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on AFYA. Citigroup restated a "sell" rating and set a $15.00 price objective (down previously from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley lowered Afya from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Afya from $25.00 to $20.50 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Afya presently has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price of $17.60.

Afya Profile

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.