Hello Group (NASDAQ:MOMO) Downgraded to “Sell” Rating by StockNews.com

Hello Group (NASDAQ:MOMO) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Hello Group from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Benchmark cut their price objective on Hello Group from $15.00 to $13.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Bank of America cut Hello Group from a “buy” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $7.93.

Hello Group Price Performance

Shares of MOMO traded down $0.16 on Tuesday, reaching $6.68. The stock had a trading volume of 626,921 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,694,309. Hello Group has a twelve month low of $4.79 and a twelve month high of $8.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $967.93 million, a PE ratio of 6.68, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $6.98 and a 200 day moving average of $6.51. The company has a quick ratio of 2.55, a current ratio of 2.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Hello Group (NASDAQ:MOMO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 3rd. The information services provider reported $2.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $2.13. The business had revenue of $2.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.67 billion. Hello Group had a return on equity of 12.09% and a net margin of 12.40%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.39 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Hello Group will post 0.73 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Hello Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Beijing Investment Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Hello Group during the third quarter worth $30,773,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Hello Group by 20.6% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,716,809 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $22,736,000 after buying an additional 633,746 shares during the period. BRIGHT VALLEY CAPITAL Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Hello Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $22,553,000. Polunin Capital Partners Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Hello Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,566,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hello Group by 22.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 721,760 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $4,417,000 after acquiring an additional 133,113 shares during the period. 50.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Hello Group Company Profile

Hello Group Inc provides mobile-based social and entertainment services in the People's Republic of China. It operates in three segments: Momo, Tantan, and QOOL. The company offers Momo, a mobile application that connects people and facilitates social interactions based on location, interests, and various online recreational activities, including live talent shows, short videos, social games, as well as other video- and audio-based interactive experiences, such as online parties, mobile karaoke and user participated reality shows; Tantan, a social and dating application; and other applications under the Hertz, Soulchill, Duidui, and Tietie names.