Short Interest in Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (NASDAQ:CGBD) Rises By 189.3%

Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (NASDAQ:CGBD) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 915,000 shares, a growth of 189.3% from the December 15th total of 316,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 195,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.7 days. Approximately 2.0% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Carlyle Secured Lending Stock Performance

Shares of CGBD opened at $17.54 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $892.89 million, a PE ratio of 9.80 and a beta of 1.57. Carlyle Secured Lending has a 12 month low of $14.76 and a 12 month high of $18.74. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $17.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $17.32.

Carlyle Secured Lending (NASDAQ:CGBD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $55.97 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.92 million. Carlyle Secured Lending had a net margin of 40.69% and a return on equity of 12.60%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.52 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Carlyle Secured Lending will post 1.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Carlyle Secured Lending Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.26%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Carlyle Secured Lending’s payout ratio is 89.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Carlyle Secured Lending from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 7th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Carlyle Secured Lending

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Carlyle Secured Lending in the 3rd quarter valued at about $585,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Carlyle Secured Lending in the third quarter valued at approximately $492,000. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in Carlyle Secured Lending by 30.9% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 13,775 shares of the company’s stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 3,249 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its position in Carlyle Secured Lending by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 30,274 shares of the company’s stock worth $514,000 after purchasing an additional 1,039 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Carlyle Secured Lending by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 31,058 shares of the company’s stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 1,490 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 24.51% of the company’s stock.

Carlyle Secured Lending Company Profile

Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc is business development company specializing in first lien debt, senior secured loans, second lien senior secured loan unsecured debt, mezzanine debt and investments in equities. It specializes in directly investing. It specializes in middle market. It targets healthcare and pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, high tech industries, business services, software, beverage food and tobacco, hotel gamming and leisure, banking finance insurance and in real estate sector.