Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) Price Target Raised to $75.00

Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) had its price objective boosted by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a market perform rating on the insurance provider’s stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Stewart Information Services from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and set a $79.00 target price on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price target on Stewart Information Services from $68.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd.

Stewart Information Services Stock Performance

STC stock opened at $72.88 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.97 and a quick ratio of 1.97. Stewart Information Services has a 1 year low of $38.40 and a 1 year high of $75.51. The company has a market cap of $2.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.95 and a beta of 1.20. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $69.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $64.85.

Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The insurance provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.04 by ($0.13). Stewart Information Services had a return on equity of 5.16% and a net margin of 1.85%. The firm had revenue of $602.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $597.00 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.69 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Stewart Information Services will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Stewart Information Services Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.74%. This is an increase from Stewart Information Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. Stewart Information Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 125.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Stewart Information Services news, CFO David C. Hisey sold 12,649 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.27, for a total transaction of $876,196.23. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 55,917 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,873,370.59. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Stewart Information Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STC. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Stewart Information Services by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 5,430 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $337,000 after buying an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Stewart Information Services by 2.2% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,688 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in shares of Stewart Information Services by 1.4% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 13,538 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $840,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Stewart Information Services by 57.7% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 716 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in Stewart Information Services by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 13,900 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $863,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.