Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF) Short Interest Up 44.0% in April

Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc. (NYSE:BCSF - Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 314,900 shares, a growth of 44.0% from the March 31st total of 218,700 shares. Approximately 0.5% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 347,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.9 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BCSF has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Bain Capital Specialty Finance from $19.00 to $16.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on Bain Capital Specialty Finance from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th.

Bain Capital Specialty Finance Stock Performance

Bain Capital Specialty Finance stock traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $15.34. 211,811 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 244,153. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $16.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $16.91. The firm has a market cap of $995.03 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.71 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.41. Bain Capital Specialty Finance has a 52 week low of $13.20 and a 52 week high of $19.21.

Bain Capital Specialty Finance (NYSE:BCSF - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. Bain Capital Specialty Finance had a return on equity of 11.90% and a net margin of 43.62%. The company had revenue of $73.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $67.50 million. On average, analysts expect that Bain Capital Specialty Finance will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bain Capital Specialty Finance Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 16th. Bain Capital Specialty Finance's dividend payout ratio is presently 90.81%.

Insider Activity

In other Bain Capital Specialty Finance news, Director Clare Stack Richer acquired 1,530 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $16.43 per share, for a total transaction of $25,137.90. Following the transaction, the director now owns 20,835 shares of the company's stock, valued at $342,319.05. This trade represents a 7.93 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.59% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Bain Capital Specialty Finance in the 4th quarter valued at $67,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Bain Capital Specialty Finance in the 4th quarter valued at $151,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in Bain Capital Specialty Finance by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 9,361 shares of the company's stock worth $164,000 after buying an additional 1,189 shares during the period. Finally, MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bain Capital Specialty Finance during the first quarter worth $176,000.

Bain Capital Specialty Finance Company Profile

Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc is business development company specializing in direct loans to middle-market companies. The fund seeks to invest in senior investments with a first or second lien on collateral, senior first lien, stretch senior, senior second lien, unitranche, mezzanine debt, junior securities, other junior investments, and secondary purchases of assets or portfolios that primarily consist of middle-market corporate debt.