AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX) Given Average Rating of “Strong Sell” by Analysts

Shares of AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX) have been given a consensus rating of “Strong Sell” by the six ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and two have issued a hold recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $7.00.

AMCX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Seaport Research Partners downgraded AMC Networks from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, December 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of AMC Networks in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of AMC Networks from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of AMC Networks from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of AMC Networks from $5.50 to $6.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th.

AMC Networks Stock Performance

Shares of AMCX stock opened at $7.17 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $306.23 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.23 and a beta of 1.16. AMC Networks has a one year low of $5.41 and a one year high of $10.27. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $7.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.67.

AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.14. AMC Networks had a return on equity of 11.32% and a net margin of 3.87%.The firm had revenue of $594.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $581.83 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.64 earnings per share. AMC Networks’s quarterly revenue was down .8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that AMC Networks will post 2.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at AMC Networks

In related news, CAO Michael J. Sherin III sold 5,963 shares of AMC Networks stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.96, for a total value of $47,465.48. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 10,648 shares in the company, valued at $84,758.08. This trade represents a 35.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 15.62% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AMC Networks

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AMCX. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AMC Networks in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in shares of AMC Networks by 133.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 4,786 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 2,735 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in shares of AMC Networks during the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in AMC Networks during the second quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in AMC Networks in the third quarter worth approximately $52,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.51% of the company’s stock.

AMC Networks Company Profile

AMC Networks Inc (NASDAQ: AMCX) is a global entertainment company that specializes in the development, production and distribution of premium content for television and streaming platforms. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a portfolio of pay television channels in the U.S. and abroad, and offers direct-to-consumer streaming services that feature both original programming and licensed fare. AMC Networks is best known for critically acclaimed series such as “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men” and “The Walking Dead,” and it continues to invest in new scripted and unscripted content across a range of genres.

The company’s core television networks in the United States include AMC, IFC, Sundance TV and WE tv, while its joint venture with BBC Studios supports BBC America.