Sapiens International (NASDAQ:SPNS) Trading 4.2% Higher – Time to Buy?

Sapiens International Co. (NASDAQ:SPNS)’s share price was up 4.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $37.91 and last traded at $37.90. Approximately 52,657 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 58% from the average daily volume of 125,947 shares. The stock had previously closed at $36.37.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SPNS shares. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on shares of Sapiens International from $38.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Sapiens International from $30.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Sapiens International from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Sapiens International from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd.

Sapiens International Stock Performance

The firm’s 50 day moving average is $36.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.02 billion, a PE ratio of 31.30 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 2.16 and a current ratio of 2.16.

Sapiens International (NASDAQ:SPNS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The technology company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.01. Sapiens International had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 17.60%. The firm had revenue of $136.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $137.78 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.31 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Sapiens International Co. will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Sapiens International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 28th were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This is an increase from Sapiens International’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.28. This represents a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 28th. Sapiens International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.57%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sapiens International

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SPNS. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in Sapiens International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new position in Sapiens International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Sapiens International by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC now owns 4,206 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Sapiens International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $192,000. Finally, Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc acquired a new position in Sapiens International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $217,000. 30.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Sapiens International Company Profile

Sapiens International Corporation N.V. provides software solutions for the insurance industry in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides various solutions for property and casualty commercial and personal lines, life and pensions, and reinsurance fields.