Ashtead Group plc (OTCMKTS:ASHTY) Short Interest Up 50.0% in December

Ashtead Group plc (OTCMKTS:ASHTY) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a growth of 50.0% from the December 15th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 88,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASHTY has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Ashtead Group from a “hold” rating to a “moderate buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Ashtead Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of Ashtead Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th.

Ashtead Group Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS ASHTY traded up $8.43 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $255.93. 12,614 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 31,797. The company has a market cap of $27.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.14, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Ashtead Group has a 12-month low of $235.29 and a 12-month high of $337.95. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $286.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $287.27.

Ashtead Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 10th will be paid a $1.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. Ashtead Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.40%.

About Ashtead Group

Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services.