Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ:NHTC) Short Interest Up 47.3% in February

Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ:NHTC) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 41,700 shares, an increase of 47.3% from the January 31st total of 28,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 23,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days. Currently, 0.6% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Natural Health Trends Stock Up 5.1 %

NASDAQ NHTC traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $5.11. 68,856 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,424. Natural Health Trends has a 52 week low of $4.02 and a 52 week high of $7.40. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $4.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.54. The stock has a market cap of $58.83 million, a PE ratio of 85.18 and a beta of 0.91.

Natural Health Trends (NASDAQ:NHTC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter. Natural Health Trends had a net margin of 1.33% and a return on equity of 1.53%.

Natural Health Trends Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 15.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. Natural Health Trends’s dividend payout ratio is currently 1,333.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Natural Health Trends

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Natural Health Trends by 6.9% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 86,590 shares of the company’s stock worth $515,000 after purchasing an additional 5,624 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC boosted its position in Natural Health Trends by 51.4% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 16,108 shares of the company’s stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 5,467 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Natural Health Trends by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 43,760 shares of the company’s stock worth $202,000 after purchasing an additional 2,274 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Natural Health Trends during the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Natural Health Trends in a research report on Monday. They set a “buy” rating for the company.

Natural Health Trends Company Profile

Natural Health Trends Corp., a direct-selling and e-commerce company, provides personal care, wellness, and lifestyle products under the NHT Global brand. The company offers wellness products, including liquid, encapsulated, tableted and powder dietary and nutritional supplements, vitamins, and minerals; and herbal products comprising herbal supplements.