Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) Short Interest Update

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 19,070,000 shares, a growth of 30.1% from the March 31st total of 14,660,000 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the company's shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 8,960,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.1 days.

Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance

NVO stock traded up $3.67 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $69.27. 13,447,464 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,216,062. The firm has a market capitalization of $310.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $71.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $88.32. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $57.00 and a one year high of $148.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.03. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 34.81% and a return on equity of 84.68%. Equities research analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 EPS for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 8th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.7874 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This represents a yield of 1.2%. This is an increase from Novo Nordisk A/S's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.51. Novo Nordisk A/S's dividend payout ratio is currently 49.54%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NVO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "equal weight" rating for the company. UBS Group upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Guggenheim cut Novo Nordisk A/S from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Dbs Bank lowered shares of Novo Nordisk A/S to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $135.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Novo Nordisk A/S

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 2.3% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 13,447 shares of the company's stock worth $1,601,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 36.9% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,925 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,655,000 after buying an additional 3,750 shares in the last quarter. Sfmg LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 1,815 shares of the company's stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 237 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 86.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 28,999 shares of the company's stock worth $3,453,000 after acquiring an additional 13,437 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 5.2% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 54,697 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,513,000 after purchasing an additional 2,684 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 11.54% of the company's stock.

About Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.