MetLife Investment Management LLC Has $817,000 Position in National HealthCare Co. (NYSE:NHC)

MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in National HealthCare Co. (NYSE:NHC) by 6.1% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 7,598 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 436 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC’s holdings in National HealthCare were worth $817,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in National HealthCare by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 164,911 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,738,000 after purchasing an additional 4,435 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in National HealthCare by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 63,739 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,856,000 after buying an additional 2,140 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in National HealthCare by 46.6% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 63,145 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,792,000 after acquiring an additional 20,072 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of National HealthCare by 75.6% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 47,062 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,062,000 after acquiring an additional 20,268 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in shares of National HealthCare by 6.3% during the fourth quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 37,466 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,030,000 after purchasing an additional 2,210 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 56.44% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com cut National HealthCare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd.

National HealthCare Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE:NHC opened at $96.18 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.05 and a beta of 0.42. National HealthCare Co. has a 12 month low of $89.14 and a 12 month high of $138.49. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $92.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $105.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

National HealthCare Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 28th were given a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 28th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.54%. National HealthCare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 37.31%.

About National HealthCare

National HealthCare Corporation engages in the operation of services to skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, homecare and hospice agencies, and health hospitals. Its skilled nursing facilities offer licensed therapy services, nutrition services, social services, activities, and housekeeping and laundry services, as well as medical services prescribed by physicians; and rehabilitative services, such as physical, speech, respiratory, and occupational therapy for patients recovering from strokes, heart attacks, orthopedic conditions, neurological illnesses, or other illnesses, injuries, or disabilities.