Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its holdings in Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC - Free Report) by 2.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,874,455 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 59,241 shares during the period. Hercules Capital accounts for about 3.3% of Sound Income Strategies LLC's holdings, making the stock its biggest position. Sound Income Strategies LLC owned 1.66% of Hercules Capital worth $55,218,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Hercules Capital during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Estabrook Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Hercules Capital by 239.0% in the fourth quarter. Estabrook Capital Management now owns 1,878 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 1,324 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Hercules Capital in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of Hercules Capital in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $80,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in Hercules Capital by 199.6% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 4,042 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $81,000 after acquiring an additional 2,693 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 19.69% of the company's stock.

Shares of NYSE:HTGC opened at $17.97 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion, a PE ratio of 11.16 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 2.72 and a current ratio of 2.72. Hercules Capital, Inc. has a 52-week low of $15.65 and a 52-week high of $22.04. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $17.60 and a 200 day moving average of $19.06.

Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $102.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.43 million. Hercules Capital had a return on equity of 17.19% and a net margin of 53.28%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.50 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Hercules Capital, Inc. will post 1.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 13th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.91%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 13th. Hercules Capital's payout ratio is currently 120.30%.

In other Hercules Capital news, Director Nikos Theodosopoulos bought 5,999 shares of Hercules Capital stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $17.49 per share, with a total value of $104,922.51. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 11,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $209,180.40. This trade represents a 100.64% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 1.90% of the company's stock.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Hercules Capital from $23.00 to $20.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on Hercules Capital from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Hercules Capital from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Hercules Capital from $21.50 to $20.50 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Compass Point raised their price target on Hercules Capital from $18.25 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $19.92.

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Hercules Capital, Inc is a business development company. The firm specializing in providing venture debt, debt, senior secured loans, and growth capital to privately held venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development from startups to expansion stage including select publicly listed companies and select special opportunity lower middle market companies that require additional capital to fund acquisitions, recapitalizations and refinancing and established-stage companies.

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