OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Acquires 16,918 Shares of Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA)

OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in Afya Limited (NASDAQ:AFYA - Free Report) by 27.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 77,815 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 16,918 shares during the quarter. OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned 0.08% of Afya worth $1,236,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of Afya by 296.9% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,072 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of Afya by 1,099.7% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,031 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 3,695 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Afya by 2,115.9% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,670 shares of the company's stock worth $106,000 after acquiring an additional 6,369 shares during the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Afya by 47.6% in the fourth quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 9,300 shares of the company's stock worth $148,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in Afya by 41.9% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 9,677 shares of the company's stock worth $154,000 after buying an additional 2,856 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.02% of the company's stock.

Afya Stock Down 2.3%

AFYA stock traded down $0.45 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $19.04. The company's stock had a trading volume of 58,217 shares, compared to its average volume of 124,735. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.60. Afya Limited has a twelve month low of $14.52 and a twelve month high of $20.06. The company's fifty day moving average price is $18.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.35, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.60.

Afya Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 26th were paid a $0.232 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 26th. Afya's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on AFYA shares. Citigroup restated a "sell" rating and set a $15.00 price target (down from $18.00) on shares of Afya in a report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Afya from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $17.60.

Afya Profile

Afya Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a medical education group in Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Undergrad, Continuing Education, and Digital Services. It offers educational products and services, including medical schools, medical residency preparatory courses, graduate courses, and other programs to lifelong medical learners enrolled across its distribution network, as well as to third-party medical schools.