Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totalling 828,000 shares, an increase of 8.1% from the September 30th total of 766,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 480,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days.

Insider Buying and Selling at Community Healthcare Trust

In other Community Healthcare Trust news, CEO David H. Dupuy purchased 10,000 shares of Community Healthcare Trust stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $19.48 per share, for a total transaction of $194,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 363,565 shares in the company, valued at $7,082,246.20. This represents a 0.00 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Robert Z. Hensley acquired 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $19.50 per share, for a total transaction of $126,750.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 70,670 shares in the company, valued at $1,378,065. This represents a 0.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO David H. Dupuy bought 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $19.48 per share, for a total transaction of $194,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 363,565 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,082,246.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 4.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Community Healthcare Trust

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in Community Healthcare Trust by 1.8% during the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 29,755 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $790,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 10,625 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 552 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 14,703 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $390,000 after acquiring an additional 558 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 6.8% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 9,770 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $177,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 16,686 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 919 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.84% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on CHCT. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $29.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Community Healthcare Trust from $30.00 to $22.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 30th. StockNews.com downgraded Community Healthcare Trust from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Community Healthcare Trust from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Community Healthcare Trust from an “underperform” rating to an “inline” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $21.00 to $18.00 in a report on Monday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Community Healthcare Trust currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $21.00.

Community Healthcare Trust Stock Performance

CHCT opened at $18.76 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $17.43 and its 200-day moving average is $21.32. Community Healthcare Trust has a one year low of $15.06 and a one year high of $29.16. The company has a market capitalization of $526.35 million, a PE ratio of -208.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.69.

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a $0.465 dividend. This represents a $1.86 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.91%. This is an increase from Community Healthcare Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. Community Healthcare Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently -2,066.67%.

Community Healthcare Trust Company Profile

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the Company”, we”, our”) was organized in the State of Maryland on March 28, 2014. The Company is a fully-integrated healthcare real estate company that owns and acquires real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems or other healthcare service providers.