Short Interest in Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA (OTCMKTS:JRONY) Rises By 67.3%

Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA (OTCMKTS:JRONY) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in August. As of August 14th, there was short interest totaling 24,748 shares, an increase of 67.3% from the July 30th total of 14,792 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 43,255 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Jeronimo Martins SGPS Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of OTCMKTS JRONY traded up $0.10 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $41.84. The stock had a trading volume of 23,301 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,724. The company has a market capitalization of $13.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.80. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $39.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $44.12. Jeronimo Martins SGPS has a 52 week low of $36.67 and a 52 week high of $52.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a current ratio of 0.64.

Jeronimo Martins SGPS (OTCMKTS:JRONY) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $10.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.74 billion. Jeronimo Martins SGPS had a net margin of 1.73% and a return on equity of 20.03%. Analysts anticipate that Jeronimo Martins SGPS will post 2.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Jeronimo Martins SGPS in a research note on Monday, July 6th. They set a “moderate buy” rating on the stock. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Jeronimo Martins SGPS in a report on Friday, July 3rd. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded shares of Jeronimo Martins SGPS from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Jeronimo Martins SGPS in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Jeronimo Martins SGPS from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Jeronimo Martins SGPS presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy”.

About Jeronimo Martins SGPS

Jeronimo Martins SGPS is a Portugal-based corporate group engaged primarily in food distribution and retail. Through its flagship Pingo Doce banner in Portugal, the company operates a network of full-service supermarkets and convenience outlets offering fresh produce, grocery items, and private-label products. In addition, its cash-and-carry arm, Recheio, supplies wholesale and hospitality professionals with a broad range of food and non-food goods.

Beyond its home market, Jeronimo Martins has established a significant presence in Poland under the discount supermarket brand Biedronka.