Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) Short Interest Up 31.0% in March

Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of March. As of March 13th, there was short interest totaling 103,904 shares, a growth of 31.0% from the February 26th total of 79,346 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 22,491 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.6 days. Currently, 1.0% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Insider Transactions at Norwood Financial

In related news, Director James Shook acquired 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $28.80 per share, for a total transaction of $100,800.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 8,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $239,904. The trade was a 72.46% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph W. Carroll bought 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $28.13 per share, for a total transaction of $112,520.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 41,503 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,167,479.39. The trade was a 10.67% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders acquired 9,700 shares of company stock worth $274,770. 8.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Norwood Financial

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NWFL. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its holdings in Norwood Financial by 75.3% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 880 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 378 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Norwood Financial by 130.7% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,061 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 601 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of Norwood Financial by 293.6% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,771 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 1,321 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Norwood Financial by 144.5% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,100 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 1,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in Norwood Financial by 68.9% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,138 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 872 shares during the last quarter. 28.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Norwood Financial Stock Down 0.5%

NASDAQ NWFL traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $28.98. The company had a trading volume of 10,322 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,799. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $29.67 and its 200 day moving average is $28.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.90. Norwood Financial has a fifty-two week low of $21.25 and a fifty-two week high of $32.23. The company has a market capitalization of $315.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.69 and a beta of 0.60.

Norwood Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Norwood Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.81%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on NWFL. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Norwood Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Zacks Research downgraded Norwood Financial from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings raised Norwood Financial from a “hold (c)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, March 16th. Finally, Stephens set a $33.00 target price on Norwood Financial and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $33.00.

About Norwood Financial

Norwood Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Wayne Bank that provides various banking products and services. The company accepts a range of deposit products, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing transaction accounts, and statement savings and money market accounts, as well as certificate of deposits. It also provides commercial loans comprising lines of credit, revolving credit, term loans, mortgages, secured lending products, and letter of credit facilities; municipal finance lending; construction loans for commercial construction projects and single-family residences; land loans; construction financing; consumer loans; mortgage lending to finance principal residences and second home dwellings; and indirect dealer financing of new and used automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles.