For Skyline Homes, a recent rough patch has analysts and investors making moves.
According to the Cerbat Gem, TheStreet downgraded shares of the company from a “c” rating to a “d” rating, in a research note issued to investors late last week.
The move comes as Skyline’s stock price has declined over 26 percent since September 2016, which the Daily Business News has followed closely in the daily market wrap.
Also of note is the announcement regarding the shutdown of their Mansfield, Texas production facility, and the subsequent announcement that Champion Homes will acquire it.
Skyline followed up that announcement on March 9th, saying that it had suspended operations at its Elkhart, Indiana plant.
“It’s not that we didn’t have the orders or the business or the customer base,” said Skyline president and CEO Richard Florea. “Despite demand from manufactured housing dealerships and manufactured housing communities, the leased facility used for production prevented daily volumes to reach and maintain profitable efficiencies.
Skyline has taken steps to ensure the 90 or so employees affected by the move are not without work, offering them jobs at other Skyline facilities in Wisconsin or Ohio or connecting them with other job opportunities.”
The SEC filing from Skyline said that the company was unable to profitably operate the 50,000 square-foot facility, which it began leasing from Forest River last year.
Investor Activity
These developments have investors making moves, with Renaissance Technologies LLC raising its position in Skyline by 51.6 percent in the fourth quarter, now with a value of just over $5 million.
Wells Fargo & Company increased its position in Skyline by 2.5 percent in the first quarter, and now owns nearly 1.2 million shares valued at $11,233,000.
As Daily Business News readers are already aware, Skyline is also one of the industry stocks monitored each business day. For the most recent closing numbers on all MH industry-connected tracked stocks, please click here. ##
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Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
