Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. Lowers Stock Holdings in Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ)

Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. reduced its holdings in Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ) by 24.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 268,727 shares of the company’s stock after selling 84,798 shares during the quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. owned approximately 3.23% of Esquire Financial worth $17,524,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Esquire Financial by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 798 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 214 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Esquire Financial during the third quarter worth about $54,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Esquire Financial in the 2nd quarter worth about $59,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Esquire Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $64,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new stake in shares of Esquire Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $91,000. 54.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Selig Zises sold 8,000 shares of Esquire Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.77, for a total transaction of $614,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 62,601 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,805,878.77. The trade was a 11.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 18.90% of the company’s stock.

Esquire Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ESQ opened at $77.69 on Monday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $68.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.46. The company has a market cap of $646.38 million, a P/E ratio of 15.63 and a beta of 0.70. Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $44.45 and a one year high of $80.00.

Esquire Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. Esquire Financial’s payout ratio is currently 12.07%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on ESQ shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of Esquire Financial from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $68.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $75.00 target price (up previously from $72.00) on shares of Esquire Financial in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Esquire Financial Company Profile

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association that provides commercial banking products and services to legal industry and small businesses, and commercial and retail customers in the United States. The company offers checking, savings, money market, and time deposits, as well as certificates of deposit.