Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Shares Down 10.4%

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI - Get Free Report) traded down 10.4% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $14.55 and last traded at $14.95. 217,612 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 64% from the average session volume of 607,267 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.69.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UTI shares. TheStreet raised shares of Universal Technical Institute from a "c+" rating to a "b" rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Northland Securities initiated coverage on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $16.00 price target for the company. Barrington Research raised their price objective on Universal Technical Institute from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a "buy" rating and set a $18.00 target price on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Technical Institute from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $15.80.

Universal Technical Institute Stock Down 9.0 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $517.33 million, a PE ratio of 55.65, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.09. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $15.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.29.

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.11. Universal Technical Institute had a net margin of 2.41% and a return on equity of 9.25%. The company had revenue of $174.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $168.19 million. Analysts forecast that Universal Technical Institute, Inc. will post 0.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Loretta Lydia Sanchez sold 8,719 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.07, for a total transaction of $131,395.33. Following the sale, the director now owns 20,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $301,400. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 27.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Technical Institute

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Washington University acquired a new position in Universal Technical Institute during the fourth quarter valued at $35,886,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in Universal Technical Institute by 297.3% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,186 shares of the company's stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 4,629 shares in the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Technical Institute by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 426,391 shares of the company's stock worth $3,573,000 after purchasing an additional 55,608 shares in the last quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 74,516 shares of the company's stock valued at $624,000 after purchasing an additional 1,751 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 45.4% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 32,459 shares of the company's stock valued at $272,000 after purchasing an additional 10,142 shares during the period. 75.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Technical Institute Company Profile

Universal Technical Institute, Inc provides transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare education programs in the United States. The company operates in two segments, UTI and Concorde. It offers certificate, diploma, or degree programs under various brands, such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology.