Zazove Associates LLC Buys 3,921 Shares of National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI)

Zazove Associates LLC grew its stake in National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI) by 3.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 130,126 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,921 shares during the period. Zazove Associates LLC owned about 0.13% of National CineMedia worth $539,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in NCMI. Hill Investment Group Partners LLC raised its position in National CineMedia by 67.4% in the fourth quarter. Hill Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 17,116 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 6,889 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. bought a new position in National CineMedia in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $58,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its position in National CineMedia by 35.9% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 84,636 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $215,000 after buying an additional 22,363 shares during the period. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in National CineMedia by 112.9% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 48,361 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $123,000 after acquiring an additional 25,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd increased its position in National CineMedia by 130.9% in the 1st quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 48,263 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $123,000 after acquiring an additional 27,363 shares during the period. 69.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

National CineMedia Stock Performance

NASDAQ:NCMI traded down $0.15 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $4.45. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 792,674 shares, compared to its average volume of 666,513. The firm has a market cap of $431.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 1.89. National CineMedia, Inc. has a 12 month low of $1.80 and a 12 month high of $5.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.46. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $4.53 and a 200-day moving average of $4.24.

National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) last released its earnings results on Monday, March 18th. The business services provider reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.10 by ($0.01). National CineMedia had a net margin of 426.68% and a negative return on equity of 22.42%. The company had revenue of $90.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.25 million. Research analysts expect that National CineMedia, Inc. will post 0.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of National CineMedia from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. B. Riley upgraded National CineMedia from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $4.50 to $6.75 in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. Wedbush boosted their price objective on National CineMedia from $4.50 to $5.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 19th. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a “speculative buy” rating and set a $6.00 target price on shares of National CineMedia in a research note on Wednesday, March 20th.

National CineMedia Company Profile

National CineMedia, Inc, through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. It engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies.