Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) Upgraded to “Buy” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Sunday morning.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on SAR. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH cut shares of Saratoga Investment from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Saratoga Investment from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Compass Point lowered their price objective on shares of Saratoga Investment from $26.25 to $25.25 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, B. Riley restated a “neutral” rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Saratoga Investment in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Saratoga Investment presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $25.08.

Saratoga Investment Price Performance

Shares of SAR opened at $24.88 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $356.97 million, a PE ratio of 10.03 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. Saratoga Investment has a fifty-two week low of $21.56 and a fifty-two week high of $26.49. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $24.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $23.87.

Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.08. Saratoga Investment had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 15.53%. Analysts anticipate that Saratoga Investment will post 3.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Saratoga Investment Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a None dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 4th were given a $1.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 4th. This represents a yield of 11.9%. Saratoga Investment’s payout ratio is presently 119.35%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new stake in shares of Saratoga Investment during the 4th quarter valued at $212,000. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Saratoga Investment by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 32,845 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $786,000 after purchasing an additional 911 shares during the period. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Saratoga Investment by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 144,817 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,464,000 after purchasing an additional 6,632 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in Saratoga Investment during the third quarter valued at $116,000. Finally, PVG Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in Saratoga Investment during the third quarter valued at $236,000. 19.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Saratoga Investment Company Profile

Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity.