Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) Receives $81.25 Average PT from Analysts

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $81.25.

WD has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings lowered Walker & Dunlop from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Walker & Dunlop from $80.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Citigroup reiterated a “market outperform” rating on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Walker & Dunlop in a research note on Friday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $75.00 price target on the stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ernest Michael Freedman bought 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $49.21 per share, for a total transaction of $246,050.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,097 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $300,033.37. The trade was a 455.79% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 3.66% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walker & Dunlop

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WD. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 49.0% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 303,242 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,357,000 after buying an additional 99,658 shares during the period. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 34.5% in the third quarter. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. now owns 159,641 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $13,349,000 after acquiring an additional 40,907 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 19.8% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 114,441 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,570,000 after acquiring an additional 18,950 shares in the last quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 151.4% during the third quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 18,113 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,515,000 after acquiring an additional 10,908 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Walker & Dunlop during the second quarter worth approximately $30,422,000. 80.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Walker & Dunlop Stock Down 2.6%

WD opened at $45.04 on Monday. Walker & Dunlop has a twelve month low of $42.12 and a twelve month high of $90.00. The company has a fifty day moving average of $59.45 and a 200-day moving average of $69.01. The stock has a market cap of $1.53 billion, a PE ratio of 27.47 and a beta of 1.57.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.46 by ($1.18). The firm had revenue of $340.02 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $343.66 million. Walker & Dunlop had a net margin of 4.56% and a return on equity of 6.81%. Walker & Dunlop’s quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.32 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Walker & Dunlop will post 4.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Walker & Dunlop Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.0%. This is an increase from Walker & Dunlop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.67. Walker & Dunlop’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 165.85%.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop is one of the largest providers of commercial real estate finance in the United States, specializing in the origination, servicing and sale of loans secured by multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, student housing and manufactured housing properties. The firm offers a full suite of debt and equity solutions, including agency financing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, HUD and FHA-insured loans, bridge and construction financing, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and investment sales advisory.

With roots dating back to 1937 and its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, Walker & Dunlop has expanded its platform through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.