TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE:TNET) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE:TNET - Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 970,100 shares, a decline of 18.5% from the March 15th total of 1,190,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 230,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.2 days. Currently, 2.0% of the shares of the company are short sold.

TriNet Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:TNET traded down $3.12 on Friday, hitting $128.05. 136,745 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 181,176. The company's 50 day moving average price is $125.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $118.73. TriNet Group has a one year low of $79.00 and a one year high of $134.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.62, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.73 and a beta of 1.09.

TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.46. TriNet Group had a net margin of 7.62% and a return on equity of 87.97%. The company had revenue of $326.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $300.36 million. Research analysts expect that TriNet Group will post 5.79 earnings per share for the current year.

TriNet Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. TriNet Group's payout ratio is 15.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen increased their price target on TriNet Group from $129.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of TriNet Group in a report on Friday, March 1st. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on TriNet Group from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded TriNet Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $119.17.

Insider Activity

In other TriNet Group news, EVP Samantha Wellington sold 14,271 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.88, for a total transaction of $1,782,162.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 48,562 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,064,422.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,385 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.07, for a total value of $293,521.95. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 18,365 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,260,180.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Samantha Wellington sold 14,271 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.88, for a total value of $1,782,162.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 48,562 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,064,422.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 33,835 shares of company stock valued at $4,161,834. Insiders own 37.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On TriNet Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in TNET. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of TriNet Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,685,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in TriNet Group by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,190,526 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $412,181,000 after purchasing an additional 430,430 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in TriNet Group by 84.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 807,212 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $94,024,000 after purchasing an additional 369,144 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in TriNet Group by 73.3% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 249,642 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $23,709,000 after purchasing an additional 105,591 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedge Capital Management L L P NC increased its position in TriNet Group by 253.6% during the 4th quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 144,083 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $17,136,000 after purchasing an additional 103,330 shares in the last quarter. 96.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

TriNet Group Company Profile

TriNet Group, Inc provides comprehensive and flexible human capital management services for small and medium size businesses in the United States. The company offers multi-state payroll processing and tax administration; employee benefits programs, including health insurance and retirement plans; workers compensation insurance and claims management; employment and benefits law compliance; and other HR related services.