American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR) Short Interest Up 24.6% in December

American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR) was the target of a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 18,587,361 shares, an increase of 24.6% from the December 15th total of 14,922,640 shares. Approximately 10.6% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,808,427 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 10.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,808,427 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 10.3 days. Approximately 10.6% of the company’s stock are short sold.

American Healthcare REIT Price Performance

American Healthcare REIT stock traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $48.06. 2,092,411 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,465,345. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $48.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $43.77. The firm has a market cap of $8.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 343.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.02. American Healthcare REIT has a 1-year low of $26.48 and a 1-year high of $51.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

American Healthcare REIT Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. American Healthcare REIT’s dividend payout ratio is 714.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of American Healthcare REIT from $46.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of American Healthcare REIT from $43.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Zacks Research downgraded American Healthcare REIT from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on American Healthcare REIT from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of American Healthcare REIT in a research report on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $51.64.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Healthcare REIT news, EVP Mark E. Foster sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.35, for a total value of $74,025.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 57,600 shares in the company, valued at $2,842,560. The trade was a 2.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey T. Hanson sold 19,208 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.40, for a total value of $929,667.20. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 76,288 shares of company stock valued at $3,718,666. Company insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Healthcare REIT

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AHR. Optiver Holding B.V. boosted its stake in American Healthcare REIT by 83.1% during the third quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. now owns 652 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in American Healthcare REIT in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in American Healthcare REIT in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of American Healthcare REIT during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of American Healthcare REIT in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 16.68% of the company’s stock.

American Healthcare REIT Company Profile

American Healthcare REIT, Inc (NYSE: AHR) was a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on acquiring, owning and managing healthcare‐related properties across the United States. The company’s portfolio spanned senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, medical office buildings and outpatient care centers, all operated under long‐term net lease or triple‐net lease structures designed to provide stable, predictable rental income.

Employing a strategy of partnering with established healthcare operators, American Healthcare REIT targeted properties in both major metropolitan areas and high‐growth secondary markets to capitalize on demographic trends such as an aging population and increased demand for outpatient services.