Short Interest in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) Increases By 36,015.1%

Key Points

• Welltower Inc. experienced a significant rise in short interest, increasing by 36,015.1% to over 10 million shares as of July 15, leading to a days-to-cover ratio of 3.5 days.
• The company reported earnings of $1.28 per share, exceeding estimates while also seeing a 39.6% year-over-year increase in revenue to $2.55 billion.
• Welltower has increased its quarterly dividend from $0.67 to $0.74, which translates to an annualized payout of $2.96 and a dividend yield of 1.8%.

Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 10,040,000 shares, agrowthof36,015.1% from the June 30th total of 27,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,890,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.5 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,890,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.5 days.

Welltower Price Performance

WELL stock traded up $0.49 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $169.27. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,553,568 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,976,936. Welltower has a 1 year low of $111.28 and a 1 year high of $170.30. The company has a quick ratio of 4.19, a current ratio of 4.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market capitalization of $113.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 95.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.93. The company's fifty day moving average is $155.52 and its 200-day moving average is $149.62.

Welltower (NYSE:WELL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.06. Welltower had a return on equity of 3.38% and a net margin of 12.18%. The business had revenue of $2.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.05 EPS. Welltower's revenue for the quarter was up 39.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Welltower will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Welltower Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th will be paid a $0.74 dividend. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 12th. This is a positive change from Welltower's previous quarterly dividend of $0.67. Welltower's dividend payout ratio is presently 151.41%.

Insider Activity

In other Welltower news, Director Andrew Gundlach bought 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 30th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $151.46 per share, for a total transaction of $3,029,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 20,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,029,200. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Welltower

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WELL. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in Welltower by 7.1% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,185 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its position in shares of Welltower by 28.4% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,242 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 496 shares in the last quarter. Summit Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Welltower by 74.3% during the 4th quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 4,315 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $544,000 after buying an additional 1,839 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Welltower during the 4th quarter valued at about $883,000. Finally, Groupama Asset Managment raised its position in shares of Welltower by 23,204.3% during the 4th quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 1,900,000 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $2,183,000 after buying an additional 1,891,847 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.80% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on WELL. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Welltower from $162.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Welltower from $158.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Welltower from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Wedbush restated an "underperform" rating on shares of Welltower in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Scotiabank reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Welltower in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $169.82.

About Welltower

Welltower Inc NYSE: WELL, a real estate investment trust ("REIT") and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience.