Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Increases Position in WaFd, Inc. $WAFD

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in shares of WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAFD) by 48.2% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 88,800 shares of the bank’s stock after purchasing an additional 28,899 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in WaFd were worth $2,600,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in WaFd by 42.8% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,174 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 352 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank raised its position in shares of WaFd by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 69,180 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,977,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its stake in WaFd by 0.6% during the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 75,005 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,196,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its holdings in WaFd by 3.5% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 13,846 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $405,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its stake in WaFd by 57.6% in the second quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 1,327 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.71% of the company’s stock.

WaFd Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:WAFD opened at $33.38 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $2.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.64 and a beta of 0.87. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $30.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $30.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.96. WaFd, Inc. has a 1-year low of $23.75 and a 1-year high of $33.81.

WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The bank reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter. WaFd had a net margin of 16.02% and a return on equity of 8.40%. The company had revenue of $187.62 million for the quarter. Sell-side analysts predict that WaFd, Inc. will post 2.56 EPS for the current year.

WaFd Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. WaFd’s dividend payout ratio is currently 40.91%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Brent J. Beardall bought 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $16.85 per share, for a total transaction of $50,550.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 6,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $101,100. This trade represents a 100.00% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.46% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of WaFd from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of WaFd from $32.00 to $31.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of WaFd in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $32.00.

WaFd Company Profile

Washington Federal, Inc, doing business as WaFd Bank, is a publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Through its subsidiary, WaFd Bank, the company provides a range of banking and financial services to individuals, small-to-medium enterprises, and commercial clients. Established in 1917 as Ballard Savings & Loan in Seattle, the institution expanded over decades to serve customers across the Western United States under the Washington Federal name and has operated as a public company since the early 1980s.

WaFd Bank’s core offerings encompass deposit accounts such as checking, savings, money market, and certificates of deposit, alongside consumer and commercial lending products.