SLR Investment (NASDAQ:SLRC) Hits New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Shares of SLR Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:SLRC) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $17.92 and last traded at $17.87, with a volume of 56666 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $17.82.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on SLR Investment from $12.50 to $13.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on SLR Investment from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $15.50.

SLR Investment Stock Down 0.8 %

The company has a market cap of $964.62 million, a PE ratio of 9.99 and a beta of 1.13. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $16.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06.

SLR Investment (NASDAQ:SLRC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.01. SLR Investment had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 40.89%. The firm had revenue of $55.58 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $57.08 million. On average, analysts predict that SLR Investment Corp. will post 1.76 earnings per share for the current year.

SLR Investment Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.28%. SLR Investment’s payout ratio is currently 93.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of SLR Investment during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,565,000. Empirical Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SLR Investment in the 4th quarter worth about $3,895,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of SLR Investment during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,902,000. Trexquant Investment LP increased its position in shares of SLR Investment by 75.5% during the fourth quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 176,331 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,850,000 after buying an additional 75,879 shares during the period. Finally, Epiq Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of SLR Investment during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,047,000. Institutional investors own 35.32% of the company’s stock.

About SLR Investment

SLR Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in secured debt (first lien unitranche and second lien), subordinated (unsecured) debt, minority equity, leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, recapitalizations, general refinancing, growth capital and strategic income-oriented control equity investments in leveraged middle market companies.