Short Interest in Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) Rises By 36.1%

Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 41,100 shares, a growth of 36.1% from the January 31st total of 30,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 14,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.8 days. Approximately 0.5% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Norwood Financial Stock Performance

Shares of Norwood Financial stock opened at $25.65 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $207.56 million, a P/E ratio of 2,565.00 and a beta of 0.61. Norwood Financial has a 52 week low of $23.50 and a 52 week high of $34.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $26.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.70.

Norwood Financial (NASDAQ:NWFL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The financial services provider reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.55 by ($0.17). Norwood Financial had a negative net margin of 0.16% and a positive return on equity of 8.38%. Research analysts forecast that Norwood Financial will post 2.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norwood Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th were paid a $0.31 dividend. This is a positive change from Norwood Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 15th. Norwood Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 12,400.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Ronald R. Schmalzle bought 2,563 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $26.43 per share, for a total transaction of $67,740.09. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 15,168 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $400,890.24. This represents a 20.33 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last ninety days, insiders have bought 12,255 shares of company stock worth $319,732. Company insiders own 9.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norwood Financial

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Emerald Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Norwood Financial during the fourth quarter worth approximately $122,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of Norwood Financial by 21.7% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 5,203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $142,000 after acquiring an additional 928 shares during the last quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Norwood Financial during the third quarter worth approximately $200,000. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new position in shares of Norwood Financial during the fourth quarter worth approximately $232,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Norwood Financial by 48.9% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,086 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 2,985 shares during the last quarter. 28.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on NWFL. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Norwood Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $28.00 target price on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott began coverage on shares of Norwood Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $31.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Norwood Financial from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th.

Norwood Financial Company Profile

Norwood Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Wayne Bank that provides various banking products and services. The company accepts a range of deposit products, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing transaction accounts, and statement savings and money market accounts, as well as certificate of deposits.