UBS Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC) Stock Price

Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC) had its target price lowered by analysts at UBS Group from $74.00 to $59.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “neutral” rating on the asset manager’s stock. UBS Group’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 14.96% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of Moelis & Company from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Moelis & Company from $89.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of Moelis & Company from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $78.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Moelis & Company in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Moelis & Company from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $75.44.

Moelis & Company Trading Down 6.7%

Moelis & Company stock traded down $3.68 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $51.32. The stock had a trading volume of 1,336,044 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,127,020. Moelis & Company has a one year low of $47.00 and a one year high of $78.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.90. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $68.44 and its 200 day moving average is $68.57.

Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The asset manager reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.37. Moelis & Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 41.67%. The firm had revenue of $487.94 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $430.17 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.18 earnings per share. Moelis & Company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Moelis & Company will post 2.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, General Counsel Osamu R. Watanabe sold 2,765 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.23, for a total value of $172,065.95. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 4,981 shares in the company, valued at approximately $309,967.63. This represents a 35.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 6.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Moelis & Company

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Moelis & Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Moelis & Company by 89.8% during the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 389 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in Moelis & Company by 64.4% during the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 416 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Moelis & Company by 153.9% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 419 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Finally, eCIO Inc. acquired a new position in Moelis & Company in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 91.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Moelis & Company Company Profile

Moelis & Co operates as a holding company. It engages in the provision of financial advisory, capital raising and asset management services to a client base including corporations, governments, sovereign wealth funds and financial sponsors. The firm focuses on clients including large public multinational corporations, middle market private companies, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs and governments. The company was founded by Kenneth David Moelis, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, Jeffrey Raich and Elizabeth Ann Crain in July 2007 and is headquartered in New York, NY.