Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT) Trading 4.6% Higher - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Versant shares rose 4.6% to $41.30 in mid-day trading, although volume was about 85% below the stock’s average daily level.
• Analysts remain cautious, with one Buy rating and seven Holds producing an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $43.20.
• Versant exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $1.49 in EPS versus the $1.39 consensus estimate on $1.64 billion in revenue; several institutional investors also recently initiated positions.

Versant Corporation (NASDAQ:VSNT - Get Free Report) rose 4.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $41.40 and last traded at $41.30. Approximately 427,360 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 85% from the average daily volume of 2,932,162 shares. The stock had previously closed at $39.48.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on VSNT shares. Seaport Research Partners reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $46.00 price target on shares of Versant in a report on Monday, May 18th. Weiss Ratings raised Versant from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Tuesday. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Versant from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Arete Research upgraded Versant from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $40.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Versant from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $43.20.

Versant Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $5.70 billion and a PE ratio of 11.81. The stock's 50-day moving average is $37.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.51.

Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter. On average, equities analysts predict that Versant Corporation will post 4.04 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Versant

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VSNT. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in shares of Versant during the first quarter worth $6,518,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Versant in the first quarter worth about $25,317,000. Gradient Investments LLC purchased a new position in Versant in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,350,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Versant in the 1st quarter worth about $26,331,000. Finally, Empyrean Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Versant during the 1st quarter valued at about $14,243,000.

Versant Company Profile

Versant Corporation is a provider of data management software. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports database management system products that companies use to solve data management and data integration issues. It also provides related product support, training and consulting services to assist users of the Company's products in developing and deploying software applications based on its products. The Company's Versant Object Database product is used primarily by enterprises, which have data management requirements, such as technology providers, telecommunications carriers, Government defense agencies, defense contractors, healthcare companies and companies in the financial services and transportation industries.

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