ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Key Points

• Short interest rose 19.4% to 20,706,340 shares as of Feb. 27, representing about 6.0% of shares outstanding and a short-interest ratio of 8.7 days.
• Shares traded down 1.1% to $23.79 intraday; ZTO has a market cap of $14.02 billion, a P/E of 15.75, and a 1‑year range of $16.34–$25.52.
• Institutions own 41.65% of the stock with several funds recently increasing positions, while analyst ratings are mixed and the consensus is a “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $22.36.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 20,706,340 shares, a growth of 19.4% from the February 12th total of 17,340,651 shares. Approximately 6.0% of the company's shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,382,681 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 8.7 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,382,681 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 8.7 days. Approximately 6.0% of the company's shares are short sold.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of ZTO traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $23.79. 1,480,626 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,831,145. ZTO Express has a 1-year low of $16.34 and a 1-year high of $25.52. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $23.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $20.91. The company has a market cap of $14.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75, a P/E/G ratio of 4.35 and a beta of -0.20.

Institutional Trading of ZTO Express (Cayman)

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. TB Alternative Assets Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 208.5% in the third quarter. TB Alternative Assets Ltd. now owns 254,948 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $4,895,000 after purchasing an additional 172,300 shares during the period. Todd Asset Management LLC increased its stake in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 1,439,998 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,648,000 after buying an additional 85,545 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 2,573.3% in the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 612,738 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $11,765,000 after buying an additional 589,817 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new position in ZTO Express (Cayman) in the 2nd quarter valued at about $12,604,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 245.4% in the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 109,272 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,098,000 after buying an additional 77,640 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 41.65% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ZTO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Zacks Research cut ZTO Express (Cayman) from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Macquarie Infrastructure upgraded shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, February 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $22.36.

About ZTO Express (Cayman)

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc is one of China's leading express delivery companies, specializing in both domestic and cross-border parcel logistics. The company operates a technology-enabled network that connects shippers, independent pickup and delivery stations, regional sorting hubs and end customers. ZTO's service portfolio includes standard express, heavy-weight parcel delivery, time-definite shipments and e-commerce logistics solutions tailored for online retailers and marketplaces.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Shanghai, ZTO has grown rapidly by leveraging a franchise-style operating model that engages a broad network of independent contractors.

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