Key Points
- Director C. Allen Bradley Jr. bought 1,000 shares on March 10 at an average price of $65.34, a $65,340 purchase that increased his holdings to 21,243 shares (a 4.94% ownership increase) valued at roughly $1.39 million.
- Stewart beat Q4 expectations, reporting $1.65 EPS vs. $1.35 expected and $794.4M in revenue (up 18.7% y/y), and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.525 ($2.10 annualized, a 3.3% yield).
- Analyst sentiment is positive with a consensus "Buy" rating and an average price target of $81.33; the stock has a $1.77B market cap, P/E of 15.61, 52-week range $56.39–$78.61, and ~96.9% institutional ownership.
Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC - Get Free Report) Director C Allen Bradley, Jr. bought 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $65.34 per share, for a total transaction of $65,340.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 21,243 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,388,017.62. The trade was a 4.94% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.
Stewart Information Services Stock Performance
Stewart Information Services stock traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $63.08. The company had a trading volume of 56,421 shares, compared to its average volume of 244,295. The company has a market capitalization of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.61 and a beta of 1.01. Stewart Information Services Corporation has a 12-month low of $56.39 and a 12-month high of $78.61. The company's fifty day moving average is $68.27 and its 200-day moving average is $71.06. The company has a current ratio of 2.21, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.
Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $1.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $794.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $774.05 million. Stewart Information Services had a net margin of 3.95% and a return on equity of 9.32%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 18.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.12 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Stewart Information Services Corporation will post 6.29 EPS for the current year.
Stewart Information Services Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Stewart Information Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.98%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of research firms recently weighed in on STC. Citizens Jmp started coverage on Stewart Information Services in a report on Monday, February 2nd. They issued a "market outperform" rating and a $80.00 price target for the company. Stephens upgraded Stewart Information Services from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $82.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Stewart Information Services from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Stewart Information Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Stewart Information Services has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $81.33.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Stewart Information Services
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stewart Information Services
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Stewart Information Services by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 5,407 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $380,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP increased its position in shares of Stewart Information Services by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 4,012 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $294,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Stewart Information Services by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,676 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $196,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund raised its stake in shares of Stewart Information Services by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 14,647 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $1,074,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its position in Stewart Information Services by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 15,479 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $1,087,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.90% of the company's stock.
Stewart Information Services Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) is a publicly traded provider of title insurance and real estate transaction services. The company underwrites title insurance policies for residential and commercial properties, offering lenders and property owners protection against title defects and liens. Beyond title insurance, Stewart delivers a range of ancillary services, including closing and escrow administration, property valuation, and risk mitigation solutions designed to streamline the mortgage process and reduce operational complexity for clients.
In addition to core title and settlement services, Stewart offers technology-driven products aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in real estate transactions.
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