Roche Holding AG (OTCMKTS:RHHBY) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

Roche Holding AG (OTCMKTS:RHHBY) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,665,700 shares, a drop of 68.8% from the February 28th total of 11,741,100 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 5,260,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RHHBY. Bard Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Roche by 37.7% during the fourth quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. now owns 110,850 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,866,000 after buying an additional 30,350 shares in the last quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Roche by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 183,448 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,399,000 after acquiring an additional 603 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Roche in the 4th quarter valued at $555,000. Diversified Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Roche by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 60,453 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,130,000 after purchasing an additional 711 shares during the period. Finally, Verity Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Roche by 26.8% during the fourth quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,036 shares of the company’s stock worth $280,000 after purchasing an additional 1,697 shares during the last quarter.

Roche Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS RHHBY traded down $0.43 during trading on Friday, reaching $41.92. The company had a trading volume of 5,202,103 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,280,667. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.26. Roche has a twelve month low of $29.20 and a twelve month high of $44.31. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $41.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.69.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Roche to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Roche in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Roche from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy”.

Roche Company Profile

Roche Holding AG engages in the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Oceania. The company offers pharmaceutical products in the therapeutic areas of anemia, blood and solid tumors, dermatology, hemophilia, inflammatory and autoimmune, neurological disorders, ophthalmology, respiratory disorders, and transplantation.