Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) Short Interest Up 413.6% in March
Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) experienced a significant increase in short interest, rising 413.6% in March to 2,280,000 shares. This represents 15.9% of the company's stock sold short, with a days-to-cover ratio of 2.4 days. CFO Karen Hartje sold 20,742 shares, reducing her position by 8.96%. Analysts have raised price targets for Sezzle, with Northland Securities setting it at $60.00. The company reported a strong quarterly EPS of $0.73, exceeding estimates, and announced a $50 million share repurchase plan, indicating confidence in its stock value.
Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,280,000 shares, an increase of 413.6% from the March 15th total of 443,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 951,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.4 days. Approximately 15.9% of the company's stock are sold short.
Insiders Place Their Bets
- Affirm Hits Profitability—Here’s What Investors Should Watch
In other Sezzle news, CFO Karen Hartje sold 20,742 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.72, for a total transaction of $1,093,518.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 210,726 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,109,474.72. This represents a 8.96 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 57.65% of the company's stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in Sezzle by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,320 shares of the company's stock valued at $338,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Sezzle by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,556 shares of the company's stock valued at $654,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Plato Investment Management Ltd bought a new position in Sezzle during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Sezzle in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sezzle by 3,575.0% during the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 147 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 2.02% of the company's stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
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Several equities research analysts have commented on SEZL shares. Northland Securities boosted their price target on shares of Sezzle from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and set a $62.83 price target (up from $62.00) on shares of Sezzle in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sezzle
Sezzle Stock Performance
- Affirm’s Path to Profitability Elevates with Interest Rate Cuts
Sezzle stock traded up $0.82 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $39.43. 741,337 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 730,755. Sezzle has a fifty-two week low of $6.73 and a fifty-two week high of $79.59. The stock has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.19 and a beta of 8.73. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $41.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.40 and a quick ratio of 2.40.
Sezzle (NASDAQ:SEZL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.22. Sezzle had a net margin of 25.29% and a return on equity of 101.18%. The business had revenue of $271.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $73.90 million. On average, research analysts expect that Sezzle will post 9.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Sezzle declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Monday, March 10th that permits the company to repurchase $50.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
About Sezzle
(Get Free Report)Sezzle Inc operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the United States and Canada. The company provides payment solution in-store and at online retail stores; and through proprietary payments solution that connects consumers with merchants. It also offers Sezzle Platform that provides a payments solution for consumers that extends credit at the point-of-sale allowing consumers to purchase and receive the ordered merchandise at the time of sale while paying in installments over time; Pay-in-Four, which allows consumers to pay a fourth of the purchase price up front and then another fourth of the purchase price every two weeks thereafter over a total of six weeks; Pay-in-Full that allows consumers to pay for the full value of their order up-front through the Sezzle Platform without the extension of credit; and Pay-in-Two and other alternative installment options, which allow consumer to pay half of the value of their order up-front and the second half in two weeks.
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