Take-Two Interactive Software Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:TTWO)

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Stock investors bought 9,524 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 21% compared to the average volume of 7,850 put options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating on shares of Take-Two Interactive Software in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Take-Two Interactive Software from $301.00 to $295.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Take-Two Interactive Software in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. B. Riley Financial began coverage on Take-Two Interactive Software in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $300.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Take-Two Interactive Software from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $284.44.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Daniel P. Emerson sold 1,698 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $213.62, for a total transaction of $362,726.76. Following the transaction, the insider owned 125,001 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,702,713.62. This trade represents a 1.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Ellen F. Siminoff sold 414 shares of Take-Two Interactive Software stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.48, for a total transaction of $101,628.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 2,429 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $596,270.92. This trade represents a 14.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 3,490 shares of company stock valued at $750,049 in the last three months. Insiders own 1.34% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Take-Two Interactive Software

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of TTWO. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Take-Two Interactive Software in the 2nd quarter valued at $731,047,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Take-Two Interactive Software by 4.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,701,533 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,606,808,000 after buying an additional 932,659 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Take-Two Interactive Software by 162.1% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,138,738 shares of the company’s stock valued at $291,551,000 after acquiring an additional 704,316 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. lifted its position in shares of Take-Two Interactive Software by 44.6% in the 4th quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 1,842,927 shares of the company’s stock worth $471,845,000 after acquiring an additional 568,263 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Take-Two Interactive Software by 17.3% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,490,676 shares of the company’s stock worth $847,711,000 after acquiring an additional 515,484 shares during the period. 95.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Take-Two Interactive Software Stock Performance

Shares of Take-Two Interactive Software stock traded down $2.23 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $214.82. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 971,503 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,398,981. Take-Two Interactive Software has a one year low of $188.56 and a one year high of $264.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $39.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.76 and a beta of 0.94. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $228.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $240.02.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Take-Two Interactive Software is an American video game publisher headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1993 by Ryan Brant, the company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker TTWO and is led by Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick. Take-Two operates through distinct publishing labels that manage development, marketing and distribution of interactive entertainment for a global audience.

Take-Two’s publishing portfolio includes Rockstar Games and 2K, as well as the Private Division label, which supports independent and mid-size developers.