Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) Short Interest Up 101.7% in June

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 486,100 shares, a growth of 101.7% from the May 31st total of 241,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 164,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Community Healthcare Trust

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,951,903 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $78,373,000 after purchasing an additional 53,282 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in Community Healthcare Trust by 5,664.3% during the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 590,442 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $15,676,000 after buying an additional 580,199 shares during the period. Kennedy Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 0.8% in the third quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 515,038 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $15,297,000 after buying an additional 4,265 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 27.8% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 364,844 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $9,687,000 after acquiring an additional 79,421 shares during the period. Finally, Mesirow Institutional Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $7,835,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.84% of the company’s stock.

Community Healthcare Trust Stock Performance

CHCT stock opened at $23.39 on Friday. Community Healthcare Trust has a one year low of $22.03 and a one year high of $36.72. The company has a fifty day moving average of $23.89 and a 200-day moving average of $25.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $647.90 million, a PE ratio of 36.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.68.

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 10th were issued a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 9th. This is a positive change from Community Healthcare Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Community Healthcare Trust’s payout ratio is currently 287.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on CHCT shares. Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $26.00 price target (down previously from $36.00) on shares of Community Healthcare Trust in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Community Healthcare Trust from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $28.67.

Community Healthcare Trust Company Profile

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated is a real estate investment trust that focuses on owning income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services in our target sub-markets throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had investments of approximately $1.1 billion in 193 real estate properties (including a portion of one property accounted for as a sales-type lease and two properties classified as held for sale).