loanDepot (NYSE:LDI) Shares Up 3%

loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI) shares were up 3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $2.43 and last traded at $2.39. Approximately 43,711 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 457,606 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.32.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of loanDepot from $3.00 to $2.50 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 13th.

loanDepot Price Performance

The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $2.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.32. The firm has a market cap of $756.03 million, a P/E ratio of -3.68 and a beta of 3.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.24, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23.

loanDepot (NYSE:LDI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 12th. The company reported ($0.17) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $228.63 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $239.40 million. loanDepot had a negative net margin of 11.31% and a negative return on equity of 20.63%. As a group, analysts forecast that loanDepot, Inc. will post -0.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jeff Alexander Walsh sold 39,284 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.63, for a total transaction of $103,316.92. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,954,678 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,400,803.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Jeff Alexander Walsh sold 39,284 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.63, for a total value of $103,316.92. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,954,678 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,400,803.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Dan Binowitz sold 13,900 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.34, for a total transaction of $32,526.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 783,251 shares in the company, valued at $1,832,807.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 83.88% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of loanDepot

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of loanDepot during the first quarter worth approximately $47,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of loanDepot during the fourth quarter worth approximately $51,000. HRT Financial LP purchased a new position in shares of loanDepot during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of loanDepot during the fourth quarter worth approximately $81,000. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in shares of loanDepot during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 39.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About loanDepot

loanDepot, Inc engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. The company offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. It also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies.