Meritage Portfolio Management Buys 2,207 Shares of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF)

Meritage Portfolio Management raised its stake in Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF) by 48.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,779 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,207 shares during the period. Meritage Portfolio Management’s holdings in Stifel Financial were worth $469,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,125 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $147,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 39.3% during the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 730 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 29.4% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,030 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 46,507 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,857,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 30,219 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,857,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. 82.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Stifel Financial Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE SF traded up $0.78 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $79.29. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 224,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 546,541. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Stifel Financial Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $54.81 and a fifty-two week high of $79.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.84 and a beta of 1.18. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $75.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $69.23.

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.62 by ($0.13). Stifel Financial had a net margin of 11.34% and a return on equity of 12.39%. The business had revenue of $1.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.40 earnings per share. Stifel Financial’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Stifel Financial Corp. will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a $0.42 dividend. This is an increase from Stifel Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Stifel Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.18%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Stifel Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $88.00 price target on shares of Stifel Financial in a research report on Tuesday, April 9th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Stifel Financial from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Stifel Financial from $86.50 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Stifel Financial from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $84.50.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Victor Nesi sold 36,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.37, for a total transaction of $2,713,320.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 54,732 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,125,150.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Victor Nesi sold 36,000 shares of Stifel Financial stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.37, for a total transaction of $2,713,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 54,732 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,125,150.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Thomas B. Michaud sold 25,421 shares of Stifel Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.26, for a total transaction of $1,887,763.46. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 90,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,687,484.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 3.52% of the company’s stock.

Stifel Financial Company Profile

Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other.