MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX) Short Interest Up 22.4% in April

( ) has seen a notable increase in short-term interest during April. On April 15, there were 1,150,000 shorted shares. This is a 22.4% increase from the 939.500 shares on March 31st. Presently, 3.1% are shorted. The short-interest rate is currently 3.1 days based on an average daily volume of 374 500 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and downgrades

MKTX was the subject of recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price for shares of MarketAxess to $345.00 in a research report on Thursday, Jan. 26th. The company was also given a market perform' rating. Morgan Stanley raised their price target for shares of MarketAxess to $344.00 from $341.00 in a report published on Tuesday, April 11, and gave the stock an 'equal-weight' rating. In a report published on Thursday 16th March, MarketAxess shares were covered. The company was given a rating of 'hold'. In a report published on Thursday, 2nd March, Atlantic Securities upgraded the shares of MarketAxess to an "overweight" rating. They also increased their price target from $321.00 up to $403.00. Eight analysts have given the company a hold or buy rating while two others have given it a sell. Steven L. Begleiter, the director of the company, sold 1,000 shares in a deal that took place on February 7th. The shares were purchased at $348.73 on average, which amounted to $348,730.00. After the sale was completed, the director owns 8,538 of the company's shares, worth $2,977.456.74. MarketAxess Director Steven L. Begleiter has sold 1,000 shares in the company on February 7th. The shares were purchased at $348.73 on average, for a value of $348.730.00. After the sale was completed, the director owns 8,538 of the company's shares, worth $2,977.456.74. On Friday, 3rd March, 604 shares were sold. The shares were purchased at an average of $366.58 for a transaction totaling $221,414.32. After the completion of this sale, the insider owns directly 5,882 shares in the company, valued at around $2,156.223.56. In the past 90 days, insiders have sold 1,854 shares worth $659.844 of company stock. Insiders hold 1.94% the stock of the company.

Institutional Trading of MarketAxess

Several large investors recently increased or decreased their stakes in MKTX. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in MarketAxess shares by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. owns now 1,342 of the financial service provider's shares valued at $374,000, after buying an additional 30 during the period. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in MarketAxess shares by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank owns now 4,405 of the financial service provider's shares valued at $1.229,000, after buying an additional 31 during the period. ETF Managers Group LLC increased its holdings in MarketAxess shares by 1.5% during the first quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC owns 2,132 of the financial service provider's shares valued at $834,000. This is after buying an additional 31 shares. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in MarketAxess shares by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC owns 9,215 of the financial service provider's shares valued at $2.570.000 after buying an additional 33 during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenue also increased its holdings in MarketAxess during the fourth-quarter by 0.7%. State of Alaska Department of Revenue owns now 5,264 shares of financial services provider's stocks worth $1,468,000. This is after adding 35 additional shares to its portfolio. Institutional investors and hedge fund own 96.78% the company's shares.

MarketAxess stock up 1.7 %

The stock price of the company rose by $5.21 on Friday to $318.37. 297,400 of the company’s shares were traded, compared with its average volume, which is 370,856. MarketAxess's 1-year low is $217.44, and its 1-year high is $399.78. The stock's moving average of 50 days is $355.61; its 200-day average is $313.60. The stock's market cap is $11,90 billion. It has a price to earnings ratio of 46.14, and a beta value of 0.80.

The last time ) announced its quarterly results was on Wednesday, 26th April. The financial services provider posted $1.96 per share for the quarter. This was $0.06 higher than analysts' expectations of $1.90. Revenue for the quarter was $203.20m, which is higher than analysts' expectations. MarketAxess's net margin was 35.23%, and its return on equity was 24.55%. Revenue for the quarter increased by 9.2% when compared with the same period last year. In the same quarter of last year, MarketAxess posted earnings per share of $1.73. MarketAxess is expected to post an average 7.64 EPS this year, according to analysts at equities firms.

MarketAxess Announces Dividend

Recently, the company declared a quarter dividend that will be paid out on Wednesday, 24th May. Dividends will be paid to shareholders who were in the records on May 10, 2010. On an annualized base, this is a dividend of $2.88 and a yield 0.90%. The ex-dividend day is Tuesday, 9th May. MarketAxess has a dividend payout ratio of 41.74%.

MarketAxess Company profile

Get Rating
)

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc. operates an electronic trading platform, which allows professionals in the investment industry to trade corporate bonds, fixed income instruments, and other types. It is divided into three geographical segments: Americas, Europe and Asia. Richard Mitchell Mcvey founded the company on April 11, 2000. Its headquarters are in New York.

MarketBeat.com offers a FREE daily email newsletter
.