Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

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

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Stewart Information Services from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research note on Thursday, February 6th.

Stewart Information Services Trading Down 1.8 %

NYSE:STC opened at $65.09 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $69.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.37. Stewart Information Services has a fifty-two week low of $58.28 and a fifty-two week high of $78.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.86 and a quick ratio of 1.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.81 billion, a PE ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.05.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.01. Stewart Information Services had a net margin of 2.94% and a return on equity of 6.81%. Sell-side analysts expect that Stewart Information Services will post 6.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Stewart Information Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 17th. Stewart Information Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 76.92%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stewart Information Services

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its position in Stewart Information Services by 310.9% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 452 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Stewart Information Services by 807.4% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 853 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 759 shares during the period. State of Wyoming lifted its stake in Stewart Information Services by 84.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,461 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $99,000 after purchasing an additional 667 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its holdings in Stewart Information Services by 58.7% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,546 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 572 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in Stewart Information Services by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,434 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $182,000 after buying an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.90% of the company’s stock.

Stewart Information Services Company Profile

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.