National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) Shares Cross Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• National HealthCare shares moved above their 200-day moving average, trading as high as $173.64 and last changing hands at $171.42. The breakout came with volume of 64,222 shares.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $1.91 on revenue of $381.82 million in its latest earnings release. It posted a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 7.91%.
• National HealthCare also paid a quarterly dividend of $0.64 per share, equal to an annualized yield of about 1.5%. Institutional ownership remains high at 56.44% of shares outstanding.

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $147.81 and traded as high as $173.64. National HealthCare shares last traded at $171.42, with a volume of 64,222 shares traded.

National HealthCare Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $2.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.35 and a beta of 0.64. The stock's fifty day moving average is $165.30 and its 200-day moving average is $147.81.

National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $381.82 million for the quarter. National HealthCare had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 7.91%.

National HealthCare Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. National HealthCare's dividend payout ratio is currently 59.12%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Morgan Stanley Institutional Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 38.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley Institutional Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,038,787 shares of the company's stock worth $142,407,000 after buying an additional 289,566 shares during the period. M Holdings Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of National HealthCare during the 3rd quarter worth $56,283,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 75.8% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 364,687 shares of the company's stock worth $49,995,000 after buying an additional 157,204 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 318,440 shares of the company's stock worth $43,662,000 after buying an additional 2,361 shares during the period. Finally, Alps Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 19.9% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 176,002 shares of the company's stock worth $21,386,000 after buying an additional 29,246 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.44% of the company's stock.

About National HealthCare

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE American: NHC) is a healthcare services company specializing in long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation. The company operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and outpatient therapy clinics. Through its subsidiary, National HealthCare Partners, NHC provides contract rehabilitation services, pharmacy management and clinical consulting to a broad network of senior living and healthcare providers.

Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, National HealthCare Corporation has built a regional footprint across the southeastern and south-central United States.

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