Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CYH – Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 30th, there was short interest totalling 11,390,000 shares, an increase of 16.2% from the December 15th total of 9,800,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,570,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.4 days. Approximately 9.1% of the company's stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Community Health Systems from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Community Health Systems from $3.00 to $4.50 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on Community Health Systems from $4.00 to $3.30 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Community Health Systems in a report on Wednesday, October 12th. They set a "sell" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Community Health Systems presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $4.97.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Community Health Systems

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Texas Permanent School Fund boosted its stake in shares of Community Health Systems by 3.4% in the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 91,012 shares of the company's stock valued at $341,000 after buying an additional 2,973 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Community Health Systems by 18.8% in the second quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,265 shares of the company's stock valued at $80,000 after buying an additional 3,371 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in Community Health Systems by 195.5% during the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,794 shares of the company's stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 3,833 shares in the last quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC raised its position in Community Health Systems by 109.1% during the second quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC now owns 9,200 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 4,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in Community Health Systems by 2.5% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 212,181 shares of the company's stock valued at $456,000 after purchasing an additional 5,116 shares in the last quarter. 81.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Community Health Systems Trading Up 2.5 %

Community Health Systems (NYSE:CYH – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 26th. The company reported ($0.52) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.05 by ($0.57). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.06 billion. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Community Health Systems will post -2.49 earnings per share for the current year.

About Community Health Systems

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Community Health Systems, Inc owns, leases, and operates general acute care hospitals in the United States. It offers general acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics, diagnostic, psychiatric, and rehabilitation services, as well as skilled nursing and home care services.

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