BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 1,503,354 shares, an increase of 21.9% from the January 15th total of 1,233,437 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 748,061 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Currently, 1.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. Currently, 1.0% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 748,061 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days.

BlackRock Price Performance

BlackRock stock opened at $1,093.11 on Thursday. BlackRock has a 52-week low of $773.74 and a 52-week high of $1,219.94. The company’s 50 day moving average is $1,093.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,105.23. The company has a quick ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 3.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market cap of $169.60 billion, a PE ratio of 30.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.47.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $12.55 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.14% and a net margin of 22.93%.BlackRock’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $11.93 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that BlackRock will post 47.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $5.73 dividend. This is an increase from BlackRock’s previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. This represents a $22.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. BlackRock’s payout ratio is presently 58.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Freedom Capital upgraded BlackRock from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $1,313.00 price objective on shares of BlackRock in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,244.00 to $1,267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of BlackRock from $1,300.00 to $1,250.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of BlackRock in a report on Monday, December 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,311.11.

Key BlackRock News

Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst bullishness: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its BLK price target to $1,340 and retained an “outperform” rating, signaling continued Wall Street confidence and potential upside to the consensus valuation. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods price target
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst consensus remains constructive: recent coverage shows a “Moderate Buy” consensus for BLK, supporting investor sentiment and demand for the shares. Analyst consensus: Moderate Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Big ETF flows into IBIT: filings and reporting show a Hong Kong-linked buyer that added roughly $436M to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a sign of continued institutional demand for BlackRock-managed crypto products — supportive for AUM and fee revenue. Mystery firm pours $436M into IBIT
• Positive Sentiment: Recurring ETF distributions: BlackRock Canada announced February cash distributions for many iShares ETFs — a routine but positive reminder that iShares generates steady client-facing product activity and recurring flows. BlackRock Canada distributions
• Neutral Sentiment: IBIT positioning mixed: BlackRock trimmed a position in a Bitcoin proxy strategy but remains a top shareholder of that vehicle — signals portfolio rebalancing rather than a broad retreat from crypto exposure. BlackRock trims IBIT stake
• Neutral Sentiment: Market‑maker noise around IBIT: high-profile 13F filings (Jane Street et al.) spawned rumors of timing/manipulation; market-structure experts say much of the reported activity is consistent with market-making and option hedging — watch volatility and trade flows, but these filings are not clear directional signals for BLK stock. Jane Street IBIT theory
• Neutral Sentiment: Active institutional stakes disclosed: BlackRock reported meaningful holdings (e.g., Qiagen disclosure and sub‑5% indirect stake in Stora Enso) in 13F/owner filings — shows active portfolio management but is more indicative of client portfolios than BLK’s operating performance. Qiagen stake disclosure
• Negative Sentiment: Shareholder litigation: Rosen Law Firm announced an investigation into potential breaches of fiduciary duty by BlackRock directors and officers — this kind of legal scrutiny can create headline risk, potential legal costs, and investor concern until resolved. Rosen Law Firm investigation
• Negative Sentiment: Product economics watch: BlackRock’s amended S‑1 for its iShares Staked Ethereum ETF shows the firm would take ~18% of staking rewards — investors should monitor whether fee splits affect product competitiveness or draw regulatory/market pushback. Staked ETH fee disclosure

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Martin Small sold 27,047 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,171.14, for a total value of $31,675,823.58. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 10,557 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,363,724.98. This represents a 71.93% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,125.00, for a total transaction of $22,500,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 61,894 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $69,630,750. This represents a 24.42% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 109,967 shares of company stock worth $122,487,380. 1.98% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA lifted its holdings in BlackRock by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 1,224 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $1,311,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Blue Sparrow LLC DE purchased a new stake in BlackRock during the fourth quarter worth approximately $12,761,000. Summit Global Investments acquired a new position in BlackRock in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $750,000. Blue Chip Partners LLC increased its stake in BlackRock by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Blue Chip Partners LLC now owns 26,294 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $28,144,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtue Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in BlackRock by 524.0% during the fourth quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC now owns 649 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $704,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.69% of the company’s stock.

BlackRock Company Profile

BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors.

In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients.