Stellus Capital Investment Co. (NYSE:SCM) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

Stellus Capital Investment Co. (NYSE:SCM - Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 67,100 shares, a decline of 23.6% from the March 31st total of 87,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 116,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Stellus Capital Investment Stock Performance

Shares of SCM stock traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $14.14. 97,936 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 119,097. Stellus Capital Investment has a fifty-two week low of $12.19 and a fifty-two week high of $15.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $341.20 million, a P/E ratio of 18.13 and a beta of 1.17. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $13.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.

Stellus Capital Investment (NYSE:SCM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 5th. The investment management company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $28.02 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27.20 million. Stellus Capital Investment had a return on equity of 14.01% and a net margin of 16.56%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.44 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Stellus Capital Investment will post 1.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Stellus Capital Investment Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th will be paid a $0.1333 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 28th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.31%. Stellus Capital Investment's payout ratio is 205.13%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Oppenheimer reissued a "market perform" rating and issued a $14.00 price target on shares of Stellus Capital Investment in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. B. Riley reissued a "sell" rating and issued a $12.50 price target (down previously from $13.00) on shares of Stellus Capital Investment in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Stellus Capital Investment from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of SCM. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Stellus Capital Investment during the third quarter worth $160,000. Edge Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Stellus Capital Investment during the first quarter worth $160,000. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Stellus Capital Investment during the third quarter worth $171,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Stellus Capital Investment during the third quarter worth $217,000. Finally, Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. acquired a new position in Stellus Capital Investment during the third quarter worth $239,000. 13.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Stellus Capital Investment Company Profile

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation is a business development company specializing in investments in private middle-market companies. It invests through first lien, second lien, unitranche, and mezzanine debt financing, often with a corresponding equity investment. The fund prefers to invest in US and Canada.

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