LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) Research Coverage Started at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) in a report published on Tuesday morning. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $50.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock.

A number of other research analysts have also commented on the company. Zacks Research lowered LendingTree from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of LendingTree in a report on Monday, December 29th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price target on LendingTree from $85.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Wall Street Zen lowered LendingTree from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, April 4th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on LendingTree from $83.00 to $70.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $67.40.

LendingTree Price Performance

Shares of TREE opened at $46.90 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $649.85 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.37 and a beta of 2.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.67. LendingTree has a one year low of $32.65 and a one year high of $77.35. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $41.46 and its 200-day moving average is $51.56.

LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The financial services provider reported ($0.39) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.90 by ($1.29). The business had revenue of $310.92 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $286.56 million. LendingTree had a net margin of 13.55% and a return on equity of 12.44%. LendingTree’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that LendingTree will post 0.48 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of TREE. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in LendingTree during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in LendingTree by 272.6% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 462 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 338 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new position in LendingTree during the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new position in LendingTree during the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in LendingTree by 281.0% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,120 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 826 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.26% of the company’s stock.

LendingTree Company Profile

LendingTree, Inc operates an online marketplace that connects consumers with a network of lenders and financial service providers. Through its platform, borrowers can compare loan offers for mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, student loans, auto loans and small business financing. The company also offers tools for comparing credit cards and deposit accounts, allowing users to research rates and terms from a range of providers in one place.

Founded in 1996 by Doug Lebda, LendingTree pioneered the comparison-shopping model for consumer credit products.