Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of Stewart Information Services from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $82.00 price target on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

Stewart Information Services Stock Down 1.8 %

Stewart Information Services stock opened at $65.09 on Wednesday. Stewart Information Services has a twelve month low of $58.28 and a twelve month high of $78.44. The stock has a market cap of $1.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.05. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $69.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.01. Stewart Information Services had a return on equity of 6.81% and a net margin of 2.94%. As a group, analysts expect that Stewart Information Services will post 6.29 EPS for the current year.

Stewart Information Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th were given a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. Stewart Information Services’s payout ratio is presently 76.92%.

Institutional Trading of Stewart Information Services

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in Stewart Information Services during the first quarter worth $218,000. Heritage Family Offices LLP raised its holdings in shares of Stewart Information Services by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 3,840 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $274,000 after buying an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Stewart Information Services by 9,252.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 27,684 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $1,975,000 after buying an additional 27,388 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Stewart Information Services by 21.8% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 60,431 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $4,078,000 after buying an additional 10,801 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Montchanin Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Stewart Information Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $206,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.90% of the company’s stock.

About Stewart Information Services

Stewart Information Services Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides title insurance and real estate transaction related services in the United States and internationally. The company involves in searching, examining, closing, and insuring the condition of the title to real property. It also offers home and personal insurance services; services for tax-deferred exchanges; and digital customer engagement platform services.