Esquire Financial (NASDAQ:ESQ) Reaches New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $110.74 and last traded at $110.32, with a volume of 26303 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $108.44.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Esquire Financial from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, November 23rd. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of Esquire Financial from $113.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Esquire Financial in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $113.00.

Esquire Financial Price Performance

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $102.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.09. The stock has a market cap of $926.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.97 and a beta of 0.43.

Esquire Financial (NASDAQ:ESQ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.01. Esquire Financial had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 31.26%.The company had revenue of $37.57 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $30.21 million. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Esquire Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were given a dividend of $0.175 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Esquire Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.28%.

Institutional Trading of Esquire Financial

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESQ. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in Esquire Financial by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 4,178 shares of the company’s stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in Esquire Financial by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 10,270 shares of the company’s stock worth $972,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Gator Capital Management LLC increased its position in Esquire Financial by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Gator Capital Management LLC now owns 93,356 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,527,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Esquire Financial by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 11,937 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,130,000 after acquiring an additional 329 shares during the period. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new position in shares of Esquire Financial during the third quarter valued at $34,000. 54.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Esquire Financial

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc is a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Esquire Bank, specializes in residential mortgage lending and community banking services. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the company operates through multiple distribution channels, including retail branches, wholesale and correspondent lending divisions. Esquire Financial focuses on tailored home financing solutions while maintaining a community-oriented approach to banking.

In its mortgage lending business, Esquire Bank originates and services a range of home loan products, including government-insured mortgages (FHA, VA and USDA) as well as conventional conforming and jumbo loans.