Short Interest in Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA) Expands By 64.8%

Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 21,729 shares, an increase of 64.8% from the January 29th total of 13,188 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 48,416 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 48,416 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BELFA. Weiss Ratings cut Bel Fuse from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird set a $250.00 target price on Bel Fuse in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $182.50.

Insider Transactions at Bel Fuse

In related news, CEO Farouq Salem Ali Tuweiq sold 33,967 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.00, for a total transaction of $7,948,278.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Peter E. Gilbert sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.75, for a total transaction of $1,074,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 15,047 shares in the company, valued at $3,592,471.25. This represents a 23.02% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 5.46% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bel Fuse

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in shares of Bel Fuse by 92.2% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 319 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Bel Fuse during the fourth quarter worth approximately $61,000. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in Bel Fuse during the fourth quarter worth approximately $111,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in Bel Fuse by 447.1% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 744 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. bought a new position in Bel Fuse during the 4th quarter valued at $243,000. Institutional investors own 6.01% of the company’s stock.

Bel Fuse Stock Performance

BELFA opened at $211.95 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.02, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The business’s 50 day moving average is $186.24 and its 200-day moving average is $146.95. The stock has a market cap of $2.68 billion, a PE ratio of 45.58 and a beta of 1.23. Bel Fuse has a twelve month low of $53.95 and a twelve month high of $227.42.

Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.78. The business had revenue of $175.94 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $172.01 million. Bel Fuse had a return on equity of 21.78% and a net margin of 9.11%.

Bel Fuse Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 15th. Bel Fuse’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.16%.

Bel Fuse Company Profile

Bel Fuse Inc, incorporated in 1949 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, designs and manufactures a broad range of electronic components aimed at ensuring reliable power delivery, circuit protection and signal connectivity. The company operates through two primary segments—Power Solutions Group and Telecom Products Group—serving original equipment manufacturers in multiple end markets, including telecommunications, data communications, consumer electronics, industrial and transportation.

Within its Power Solutions Group, Bel Fuse offers magnetic components such as power and signal transformers, inductors and coils, as well as circuit protection devices including fuses and resettable polyfuses.