X Financial Sponsored ADR (NYSE:XYF) Short Interest Up 65.1% in August

Key Points

• Short interest in X Financial has surged by 65.1%, rising to 284,700 shares as of August 31, indicating increased bearish sentiment towards the stock.
• X Financial has announced a semi-annual dividend increase from $0.25 to $0.28 per share, with a dividend yield of 330.0% and a payout ratio of 8.99%.
• Wall Street Zen dropped their rating on X Financial from "strong-buy" to "buy," reflecting a shift in analyst sentiment amidst the stock's recent performance.

X Financial Sponsored ADR (NYSE:XYF - Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 284,700 shares, an increase of 65.1% from the August 15th total of 172,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 413,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Currently, 1.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 1.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 413,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wall Street Zen cut shares of X Financial from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 22nd.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On X Financial

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in X Financial by 29.4% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 107,272 shares of the company's stock worth $1,534,000 after acquiring an additional 24,395 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of X Financial during the second quarter worth $697,000. Finally, Hhlr Advisors LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of X Financial during the first quarter worth $720,000. 1.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

X Financial Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:XYF traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $14.84. 299,900 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 230,186. X Financial has a fifty-two week low of $4.85 and a fifty-two week high of $20.35. The firm has a market cap of $620.10 million, a PE ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.05.

X Financial (NYSE:XYF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 18th. The company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $317.32 million during the quarter. X Financial had a net margin of 23.30% and a return on equity of 25.42%.

X Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 26th will be given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This is a boost from X Financial's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.25. This represents a yield of 330.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 26th. X Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 8.99%.

About X Financial

X Financial provides personal finance services in the People's Republic of China. The company offers services as an online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors or institutional funding partners. Its loan products include Xiaoying credit loan, which consists of Xiaoying card loan; and Xiaoying preferred loan to small business owners.