Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Saratoga Investment was downgraded from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" by Zacks Research, indicating a significant shift in analysts' sentiment towards the stock.
• Despite the downgrade, other analysts have varying ratings, with Janney Montgomery Scott maintaining a "neutral" rating and LADENBURG THALM/SH upgrading it to a "hold."
• The stock has seen a decline of 2.0% recently, with shares trading at approximately $21.60, and analysts anticipate an earnings per share of 3.93 for the current year.

Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR - Get Free Report) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on SAR. Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Saratoga Investment in a research report on Friday. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Saratoga Investment to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Saratoga Investment in a research report on Wednesday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $23.88.

Saratoga Investment Stock Down 2.0%

NYSE:SAR opened at $21.60 on Thursday. Saratoga Investment has a twelve month low of $21.10 and a twelve month high of $26.49. The company has a market cap of $347.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $24.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 7th. The financial services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.67 by ($0.09). Saratoga Investment had a return on equity of 10.09% and a net margin of 27.19%.The business had revenue of $30.63 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.39 million. Analysts anticipate that Saratoga Investment will post 3.93 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Saratoga Investment

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SAR. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Saratoga Investment by 300.0% in the first quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Saratoga Investment by 2,380.1% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,977 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 5,736 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its stake in Saratoga Investment by 24.0% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 6,256 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,211 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. grew its stake in Saratoga Investment by 36.4% in the first quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 6,932 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $176,000 after purchasing an additional 1,850 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Saratoga Investment in the second quarter valued at about $242,000. 19.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Saratoga Investment

Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity.

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