Sapiens International (NASDAQ:SPNS) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Buy

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Sapiens International (NASDAQ:SPNS) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Sapiens International from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Sapiens International from $30.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of Sapiens International from $38.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd.

Sapiens International Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ:SPNS opened at $36.63 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Sapiens International has a 52-week low of $24.39 and a 52-week high of $41.22. The stock has a market cap of $2.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.31 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $36.33 and a 200-day moving average price of $34.19.

Sapiens International (NASDAQ:SPNS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The technology company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 analyst estimates of $137.78 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.31 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Sapiens International will post 1.42 EPS for the current year.

Sapiens International Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sapiens International

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Foundry Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Sapiens International by 11.2% during the first quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 130,210 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $4,188,000 after purchasing an additional 13,166 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sapiens International in the first quarter worth about $3,807,000. Tidal Investments LLC acquired a new position in Sapiens International during the first quarter worth about $871,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Sapiens International by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 954,791 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $30,687,000 after acquiring an additional 79,302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in Sapiens International by 155.4% in the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 599,386 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $19,276,000 after purchasing an additional 364,695 shares in the last quarter. 30.73% of the stock is currently 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.