LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Strong-Buy Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of LendingTree (NASDAQ:TREE) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Tuesday.

Several other analysts have also commented on the stock. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on shares of LendingTree from $78.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on shares of LendingTree from $73.00 to $66.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Northland Securities raised shares of LendingTree from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $69.00 target price on shares of LendingTree in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, Northland Capmk raised shares of LendingTree from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $65.75.

LendingTree Stock Performance

Shares of TREE opened at $48.70 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.67, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. LendingTree has a one year low of $33.58 and a one year high of $62.49. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $47.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $652.29 million, a PE ratio of -18.04 and a beta of 2.14.

Insider Activity at LendingTree

In other news, COO Scott Peyree purchased 9,794 shares of LendingTree stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of $46.13 per share, with a total value of $451,797.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 97,566 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,500,719.58. The trade was a 11.16 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 23.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LendingTree

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in shares of LendingTree by 63.0% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 14,490 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $561,000 after acquiring an additional 5,603 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its position in LendingTree by 2,074.7% in the 4th quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 107,998 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,185,000 after purchasing an additional 103,032 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new stake in LendingTree in the 4th quarter worth approximately $409,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in LendingTree in the 4th quarter worth approximately $326,000. Finally, Man Group plc bought a new stake in LendingTree in the 4th quarter worth approximately $324,000. Institutional investors own 68.26% of the company’s stock.

About LendingTree

LendingTree, Inc, through its subsidiary, operates online consumer platform in the United States. It operates through three segments: Home, Consumer, and Insurance. The Home segment offers purchase mortgage, refinance mortgage, and home equity loans and lines of credit; and real estate brokerage services.