Japan Tob (OTCMKTS:JAPAY) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Japan Tob (OTCMKTS:JAPAY) saw a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 31,592 shares, an increase of 307.6% from the December 15th total of 7,750 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 390,601 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.0% of the company’s shares are sold short. Approximately 0.0% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 390,601 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Japan Tob Price Performance

JAPAY opened at $18.58 on Tuesday. Japan Tob has a 1 year low of $11.91 and a 1 year high of $19.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.36. The company has a market capitalization of $65.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.42 and a beta of 0.35. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $18.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.65.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

JAPAY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $17.00 price objective on shares of Japan Tob in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Japan Tob from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $17.00.

Japan Tob Company Profile

Japan Tobacco Inc (OTC: JAPAY) is a Tokyo-based multinational company primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. The company’s core activities include the development, production and distribution of cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery products for domestic and international markets. Japan Tobacco also pursues business activities beyond tobacco, including pharmaceutical and processed‑food operations through subsidiary units and strategic investments.

In its tobacco operations the company serves both the Japanese market and a broad international footprint through its global operating arm, Japan Tobacco International (JTI).