BNP Paribas Financial Markets Grows Stake in National Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:NKSH)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in National Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:NKSH) by 71.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,757 shares of the bank’s stock after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in National Bankshares were worth $53,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in shares of National Bankshares by 16.7% in the third quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 3,500 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Ridge Investment Management purchased a new position in National Bankshares during the 3rd quarter valued at about $211,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of National Bankshares in the 2nd quarter valued at about $226,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of National Bankshares by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 16,268 shares of the bank’s stock worth $486,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of National Bankshares by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 21,370 shares of the bank’s stock worth $604,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 29.73% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on NKSH. StockNews.com raised shares of National Bankshares from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded National Bankshares from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $38.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd.

National Bankshares Stock Performance

Shares of National Bankshares stock opened at $28.75 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $182.88 million, a PE ratio of 19.83 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.88. National Bankshares, Inc. has a one year low of $26.50 and a one year high of $35.54.

National Bankshares Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This is a positive change from National Bankshares’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.55. National Bankshares’s payout ratio is 107.59%.

About National Bankshares

National Bankshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for the National Bank of Blacksburg that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and local governments. The company accepts interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand deposit accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts.