Haleon PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:HLN) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Short interest in Haleon PLC dropped by 20.8% in August, bringing the total to 16,270,000 shares, which is a small percentage of the company's stock at 0.4%.
• Institutional investors significantly increased their holdings, with Hanson & Doremus Investment Management raising their stake by 234.1% in the 2nd quarter.
• Haleon recently declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.0555 per share, an increase from the previous $0.05, reflecting a yield of 190.0%.

Haleon PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:HLN - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 16,270,000 shares, a drop of 20.8% from the August 15th total of 20,530,000 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 11,260,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Based on an average trading volume of 11,260,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 0.4% of the company's shares are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas raised shares of Haleon to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Barclays cut shares of Haleon from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Haleon from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Haleon from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 12th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane raised shares of Haleon from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $13.40 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Haleon presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $12.33.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Haleon

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of HLN. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in Haleon during the 4th quarter valued at $187,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of Haleon by 15.8% in the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 120,122 shares of the company's stock worth $1,146,000 after purchasing an additional 16,429 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Haleon by 82.5% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 528,891 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,046,000 after acquiring an additional 239,019 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of Haleon by 62.6% during the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,733,615 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,078,000 after purchasing an additional 1,052,462 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP acquired a new stake in shares of Haleon during the fourth quarter valued at about $2,391,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.67% of the company's stock.

Haleon Trading Down 1.6%

HLN stock traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $9.02. 9,766,140 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,421,567. The stock's fifty day moving average is $9.66 and its 200-day moving average is $10.16. Haleon has a 52-week low of $8.86 and a 52-week high of $11.42. The company has a market cap of $40.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48.

Haleon Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th were paid a $0.0555 dividend. This is a boost from Haleon's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.05. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 190.0%. Haleon's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.21%.

Haleon Company Profile

Haleon plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of various consumer healthcare products in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company provides oral health products, such as toothpastes, mouth washes, and denture care products under the Sensodyne, Polident, Parodontax, Biotene brands; and vitamins, minerals, and supplements under Centrum, Emergen-C, Caltrate brands.