Virtu Financial LLC Purchases New Shares in Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG)

Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG) during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 51,307 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $400,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Equitable Trust Co. lifted its position in Big Lots by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 30,562 shares of the company’s stock worth $238,000 after buying an additional 1,960 shares in the last quarter. AJOVista LLC bought a new position in shares of Big Lots in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Big Lots during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $95,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in shares of Big Lots by 1,676.6% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 14,408 shares of the company’s stock valued at $112,000 after purchasing an additional 13,597 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Big Lots in the 4th quarter worth approximately $125,000. Institutional investors own 75.96% of the company’s stock.

Big Lots Stock Down 7.6 %

NYSE:BIG opened at $1.89 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05. Big Lots, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1.87 and a 12-month high of $11.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.95 million, a P/E ratio of -0.11 and a beta of 2.28. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $3.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.80.

Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 6th. The company reported ($4.51) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($4.23) by ($0.28). Big Lots had a negative net margin of 10.44% and a negative return on equity of 147.35%. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($3.40) EPS. Big Lots’s quarterly revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Big Lots, Inc. will post -11.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on BIG shares. StockNews.com downgraded Big Lots from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, June 14th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $2.50 price objective on shares of Big Lots in a report on Friday, June 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $4.60.

About Big Lots

Big Lots, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a home discount retailer in the United States. The company offers products under various merchandising categories, such as furniture category that includes upholstery, mattresses, home décor, case goods, and ready-to-assemble departments; seasonal category, which comprises patio furniture, gazebos, Christmas trim, lawn and garden, and other holiday departments; soft home category consists of apparel, hosiery, jewelry; frames, fashion and utility bedding, bath, window, decorative textiles, and area rugs departments; and food category that includes beverages and grocery, specialty foods, and candy and snacks departments.