Short Interest in Vasta Platform Limited (NASDAQ:VSTA) Expands By 77.9%

Key Points

• Vasta Platform Limited saw a significant increase in short interest, rising 77.9% to 53,900 shares by August 31st, representing 1.0% of total shares.
• Morgan Stanley has maintained an "underweight" rating on Vasta Platform, with analysts collectively giving the stock an average rating of "Sell."
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Vasta Platform by 19.0%, owning approximately 1.72% of the company worth $5.9 million as of the latest quarter.

Vasta Platform Limited (NASDAQ:VSTA - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 53,900 shares, a growth of 77.9% from the August 15th total of 30,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 19,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 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 19,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vasta Platform

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Vasta Platform stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Vasta Platform Limited (NASDAQ:VSTA - Free Report) by 19.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,378,562 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 220,161 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 1.72% of Vasta Platform worth $5,900,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.80% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of Vasta Platform in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Sell".

Vasta Platform Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of VSTA traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $4.93. 36,956 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 32,639. The firm has a market capitalization of $394.99 million, a PE ratio of 4.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.27 and a beta of -0.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Vasta Platform has a 1-year low of $1.60 and a 1-year high of $5.49. The business has a fifty day moving average of $4.30 and a 200-day moving average of $4.23.

Vasta Platform (NASDAQ:VSTA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.09). Vasta Platform had a net margin of 26.88% and a return on equity of 1.20%. The company had revenue of $63.28 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $434.00 million. Analysts expect that Vasta Platform will post 0.19 EPS for the current year.

About Vasta Platform

Vasta Platform Limited provides educational printed and digital solutions to private schools operating in the K-12 education sector in Brazil. The company offers digital and printed textbooks, teacher handbooks, exercise books, multidisciplinary subject books, and student evaluations; and PAR platform that allows schools to select their preferred books and materials and follow their own specific teaching methods.