StockNews.com Initiates Coverage on Big Lots (NYSE:BIG)

Equities researchers at StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) in a report issued on Sunday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on BIG. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on Big Lots from $2.50 to $1.50 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Loop Capital upgraded Big Lots from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $1.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Big Lots presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $2.50.

Big Lots Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The company’s 50-day moving average is $0.98 and its 200-day moving average is $2.60. The firm has a market cap of $8.82 million, a P/E ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.20. Big Lots has a 12 month low of $0.30 and a 12 month high of $8.41.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Big Lots

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BIG. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Big Lots by 3.7% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,598,679 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,922,000 after buying an additional 56,540 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Big Lots by 40.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 990,131 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,713,000 after buying an additional 284,258 shares in the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of Big Lots by 244.7% during the first quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 461,188 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,997,000 after purchasing an additional 327,397 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Big Lots by 1,132.9% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 200,960 shares of the company’s stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 184,660 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in shares of Big Lots in the second quarter worth $269,000. 75.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Big Lots Company Profile

Big Lots, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a home discount retailer in the United States. The company offers products under various merchandising categories, such as furniture category that includes upholstery, mattresses, home décor, case goods, and ready-to-assemble departments; seasonal category, which comprises patio furniture, gazebos, Christmas trim, lawn and garden, and other holiday departments; soft home category consists of apparel, hosiery, jewelry; frames, fashion and utility bedding, bath, window, decorative textiles, and area rugs departments; and food category that includes beverages and grocery, specialty foods, and candy and snacks departments.