Short Interest in JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) Rises By 21.2%

JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 27,440,000 shares, a growth of 21.2% from the March 31st total of 22,640,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 15,270,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.8 days. Currently, 2.1% of the company's shares are sold short.

JD.com Stock Up 4.9 %

Shares of NASDAQ:JD traded up $1.62 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $34.47. 12,488,959 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,229,500. The firm has a market cap of $54.36 billion, a PE ratio of 10.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.20. JD.com has a fifty-two week low of $24.13 and a fifty-two week high of $47.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

JD.com Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 8th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This is a boost from JD.com's previous annual dividend of $0.74. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 8th. This represents a yield of 1.7%. JD.com's payout ratio is presently 26.13%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JD. KBC Group NV increased its position in shares of JD.com by 213.4% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 356,019 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $12,343,000 after purchasing an additional 242,409 shares during the last quarter. Appaloosa LP raised its holdings in shares of JD.com by 43.4% in the 4th quarter. Appaloosa LP now owns 10,465,885 shares of the information services provider's stock valued at $362,852,000 after purchasing an additional 3,165,885 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in JD.com by 20.4% in the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 393,597 shares of the information services provider's stock valued at $13,646,000 after purchasing an additional 66,693 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp grew its holdings in JD.com by 25.4% during the fourth quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 504,519 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $17,492,000 after purchasing an additional 102,326 shares during the period. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its position in JD.com by 76.9% during the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 3,313,700 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $114,886,000 after buying an additional 1,440,418 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.98% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on JD shares. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of JD.com from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Dbs Bank raised JD.com to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on JD.com from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. UBS Group set a $51.00 target price on JD.com in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Macquarie reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of JD.com in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $49.27.

JD.com Company Profile

JD.com, Inc operates as a supply chain-based technology and service provider in the People's Republic of China. The company offers computers, communication, and consumer electronics products, as well as home appliances; and general merchandise products comprising food, beverage and fresh produce, baby and maternity products, furniture and household goods, cosmetics and other personal care items, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, industrial products, books, automobile accessories, apparel and footwear, bags, and jewelry.

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