Short Interest in Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZG) Expands By 23.9%

Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZG) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 876,700 shares, an increase of 23.9% from the January 31st total of 707,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 508,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Currently, 1.7% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ZG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays increased their price objective on Zillow Group from $36.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Craig Hallum upped their price objective on Zillow Group from $70.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on Zillow Group from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Zillow Group from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, JMP Securities increased their target price on shares of Zillow Group from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $83.00.

Insider Transactions at Zillow Group

In related news, insider Errol G. Samuelson sold 6,967 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.72, for a total transaction of $541,475.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 127,467 shares in the company, valued at $9,906,735.24. This trade represents a 5.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CTO David A. Beitel sold 2,025 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.75, for a total transaction of $157,443.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 151,046 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,743,826.50. The trade was a 1.32 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 96,065 shares of company stock worth $7,660,165. 17.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Creative Planning raised its stake in Zillow Group by 7.2% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 6,537 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $405,000 after buying an additional 439 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc bought a new stake in Zillow Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $231,000. River Global Investors LLP raised its stake in Zillow Group by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. River Global Investors LLP now owns 40,219 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $2,492,000 after acquiring an additional 1,571 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its holdings in Zillow Group by 207.2% during the 3rd quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 15,248 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $944,000 after purchasing an additional 10,285 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in Zillow Group by 0.9% during the third quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 91,516 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $5,668,000 after purchasing an additional 811 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.32% of the company’s stock.

Zillow Group Stock Down 4.0 %

NASDAQ:ZG opened at $72.18 on Friday. Zillow Group has a twelve month low of $38.06 and a twelve month high of $86.58. The company has a market cap of $17.51 billion, a P/E ratio of -153.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.90 and a beta of 2.33. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $75.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.63.

Zillow Group (NASDAQ:ZG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The technology company reported ($0.22) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.26 by ($0.48). Zillow Group had a negative net margin of 5.01% and a negative return on equity of 2.12%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Zillow Group will post 0.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Zillow Group

Zillow Group, Inc operates real estate brands in mobile applications and Websites in the United States. The company offers premier agent and rentals marketplaces, new construction marketplaces, advertising, display advertising, and business technology solutions, as well as dotloop and floor plans. It also provides mortgage originations and the sale of mortgages, and advertising to mortgage lenders and other mortgage professionals; and title and escrow services.