The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company Purchases New Stake in National HealthCare Corporation $NHC

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company acquired a new position in shares of National HealthCare Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 6,626 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,400,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in National HealthCare by 53.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,724 shares of the company’s stock valued at $253,000 after buying an additional 950 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 16,080 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,492,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,247 shares of the company’s stock worth $858,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of National HealthCare by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 73,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,846,000 after acquiring an additional 4,879 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in shares of National HealthCare by 18.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 30,246 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,807,000 after acquiring an additional 4,628 shares in the last quarter. 56.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

National HealthCare Stock Performance

NYSEAMERICAN NHC opened at $218.64 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $220.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $191.71. The stock has a market cap of $3.42 billion, a PE ratio of 24.59 and a beta of 0.62. National HealthCare Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $112.40 and a fifty-two week high of $239.29.

National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter. National HealthCare had a return on equity of 10.03% and a net margin of 9.00%.The company had revenue of $408.03 million during the quarter.

National HealthCare Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be issued a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 30th. National HealthCare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 61.89%.

Insider Transactions at National HealthCare

In other National HealthCare news, Director David R. Gifford sold 1,779 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.42, for a total value of $401,022.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 1,030 shares in the company, valued at approximately $232,182.60. This trade represents a 63.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Stephen Fowler Flatt sold 1,500 shares of National HealthCare stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $237.08, for a total value of $355,620.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 65,487 shares in the company, valued at $15,525,657.96. The trade was a 2.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 13.92% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on NHC shares. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of National HealthCare to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Robert W. Baird upgraded National HealthCare to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised National HealthCare to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded National HealthCare to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy”.

National HealthCare Profile

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE American: NHC) is a healthcare services company specializing in long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation. The company operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and outpatient therapy clinics. Through its subsidiary, National HealthCare Partners, NHC provides contract rehabilitation services, pharmacy management and clinical consulting to a broad network of senior living and healthcare providers.

Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, National HealthCare Corporation has built a regional footprint across the southeastern and south-central United States.