WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) Shares Gap Down to $28.11

WaFd, Inc (NASDAQ:WAFD)’s share price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $28.11, but opened at $27.28. WaFd shares last traded at $28.69, with a volume of 29,125 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WAFD shares. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $32.00 price objective on shares of WaFd in a research report on Tuesday. DA Davidson reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $35.00 price objective on shares of WaFd in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of WaFd from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of WaFd from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 21st.

WaFd Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion, a PE ratio of 10.79 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $27.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $28.32.

WaFd Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were issued a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.66%. This is a positive change from WaFd’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. WaFd’s dividend payout ratio is 39.54%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lakeside Advisors INC. lifted its holdings in WaFd by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Lakeside Advisors INC. now owns 8,718 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $223,000 after purchasing an additional 546 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WaFd by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 12,054 shares of the bank’s stock worth $397,000 after acquiring an additional 661 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WaFd by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 25,853 shares of the bank’s stock worth $662,000 after acquiring an additional 739 shares during the period. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WaFd by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,961 shares of the bank’s stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares during the period. Finally, Hennessy Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WaFd by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 101,000 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,932,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the period. 83.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

WaFd Company Profile

WaFd, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, and term certificates of deposit, as well as money market accounts and passbook savings accounts.