National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) Stock Breaks Above 200-Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• National HealthCare shares broke above their 200-day moving average, reaching $231.94 and last trading at $228.27, compared with a 200-day average of $201.54.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $1.74 on $408.03 million in revenue and announced a $0.67 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 1.2% yield and $2.68 annualized payout.
• Insiders sold 17,645 shares worth nearly $4.0 million over the past quarter, while institutional ownership stands at 56.44%, including new positions from BlackRock and Morgan Stanley.

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC - Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $201.54 and traded as high as $231.94. National HealthCare shares last traded at $228.27, with a volume of 90,574 shares traded.

National HealthCare Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.68 and a beta of 0.60. The stock's 50-day moving average is $223.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $201.54.

National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $408.03 million during the quarter. National HealthCare had a return on equity of 10.03% and a net margin of 9.00%.

National HealthCare Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be issued a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 30th. National HealthCare's dividend payout ratio is currently 61.89%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Brian F. Kidd sold 6,813 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $1,537,694.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 23,183 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,232,403.10. This represents a 22.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen Fowler Flatt sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $237.08, for a total value of $355,620.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 65,487 shares of the company's stock, valued at $15,525,657.96. The trade was a 2.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 17,645 shares of company stock valued at $3,991,668. Insiders own 13.92% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in National HealthCare during the second quarter valued at approximately $417,602,000. Morgan Stanley Institutional Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of National HealthCare in the second quarter valued at $217,391,000. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in National HealthCare by 45.4% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 530,302 shares of the company's stock worth $84,689,000 after purchasing an additional 165,615 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in National HealthCare during the second quarter valued at $25,854,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in National HealthCare by 407.2% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 75,257 shares of the company's stock valued at $12,019,000 after purchasing an additional 60,420 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 56.44% of the company's stock.

National HealthCare Company Profile

National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is a healthcare services company that provides post-acute and long-term care through a network of skilled nursing centers, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living communities and memory care services. The company also offers home health, hospice and palliative care, behavioral health services, and other related healthcare programs.

NHC serves patients and residents primarily across the southeastern United States. Its services are designed to support individuals recovering from illness or injury, managing chronic conditions, or requiring long-term assistance and residential care.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.