LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ:TREE) Receives $65.75 Consensus Target Price from Analysts

Shares of LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ:TREE) have received a consensus rating of “Buy” from the nine research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.75.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on shares of LendingTree from $78.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Northland Capmk upgraded shares of LendingTree from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of LendingTree from $73.00 to $66.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of LendingTree from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $69.00 price objective on shares of LendingTree in a research note on Thursday, March 6th.

Insider Activity at LendingTree

In other LendingTree news, COO Scott Peyree bought 9,794 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $46.13 per share, for a total transaction of $451,797.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 97,566 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,500,719.58. This trade represents a 11.16 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 23.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Emerald Advisers LLC lifted its position in LendingTree by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Emerald Advisers LLC now owns 361,220 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $13,997,000 after purchasing an additional 4,831 shares during the period. Blue Grotto Capital LLC increased its holdings in LendingTree by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. Blue Grotto Capital LLC now owns 301,784 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $11,694,000 after buying an additional 11,784 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in LendingTree by 1.0% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 253,208 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $14,697,000 after buying an additional 2,595 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in LendingTree by 6.8% in the fourth quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 242,400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,393,000 after buying an additional 15,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in LendingTree by 15.8% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 204,896 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $7,940,000 after buying an additional 27,887 shares in the last quarter. 68.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

LendingTree Price Performance

Shares of TREE opened at $51.68 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $692.20 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.14 and a beta of 2.14. LendingTree has a twelve month low of $33.58 and a twelve month high of $62.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.67. The company has a 50 day moving average of $44.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $47.03.

About LendingTree

LendingTree, Inc, through its subsidiary, operates online consumer platform in the United States. It operates through three segments: Home, Consumer, and Insurance. The Home segment offers purchase mortgage, refinance mortgage, and home equity loans and lines of credit; and real estate brokerage services.