National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI) Upgraded by Wedbush to "Strong-Buy" Rating

Wedbush upgraded shares of National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI - Free Report) to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Wednesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

Separately, Truist Financial raised National Health Investors from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $77.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $85.75.

National Health Investors Trading Down 0.5%

NHI traded down $0.37 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $70.43. 197,535 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 248,271. The firm's fifty day moving average is $72.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.62. National Health Investors has a 1-year low of $65.13 and a 1-year high of $86.13. The company has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a PE ratio of 22.36, a PEG ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 16.55, a quick ratio of 16.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88.

National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.02. National Health Investors had a net margin of 41.15% and a return on equity of 10.64%. The business had revenue of $68.87 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $85.13 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.10 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that National Health Investors will post 4.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Health Investors Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.11%. National Health Investors's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 114.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Health Investors

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of NHI. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of National Health Investors by 49.8% during the 1st quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 442 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 4.4% during the first quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 3,969 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its stake in National Health Investors by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 4,867 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $337,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its stake in National Health Investors by 42.0% in the fourth quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 639 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in National Health Investors by 1.6% in the first quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 12,691 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $938,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.51% of the company's stock.

About National Health Investors

Incorporated in 1991, National Health Investors, Inc NYSE: NHI is a real estate investment trust specializing in sale, leasebacks, joint-ventures, senior housing operating partnerships, and mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical investments. NHI's portfolio consists of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty hospitals.