Royce & Associates LP Has $32.82 Million Position in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. $WD

Royce & Associates LP boosted its holdings in shares of Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) by 12.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 545,558 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 59,465 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP’s holdings in Walker & Dunlop were worth $32,815,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 1,401.9% during the fourth quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 68,846 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,141,000 after buying an additional 64,262 shares in the last quarter. Legato Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the fourth quarter worth $704,000. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 6,425 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $386,000 after buying an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 48.4% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 30,050 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,808,000 after buying an additional 9,805 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 216.7% during the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 9,792 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $589,000 after buying an additional 6,700 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.97% of the company’s stock.

Walker & Dunlop Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WD opened at $50.43 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $1.73 billion, a PE ratio of 24.97 and a beta of 1.52. The business has a fifty day moving average of $48.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.88. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a 52-week low of $42.12 and a 52-week high of $90.00.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.46 by ($1.18). The company had revenue of $340.02 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $343.66 million. Walker & Dunlop had a net margin of 5.29% and a return on equity of 7.18%. The firm’s revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.32 earnings per share.

Walker & Dunlop Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 21st will be issued a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 21st. Walker & Dunlop’s payout ratio is currently 134.65%.

Insider Transactions at Walker & Dunlop

In other Walker & Dunlop news, Director Dana L. Schmaltz purchased 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 18th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $45.78 per share, with a total value of $45,780.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 84,325 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,860,398.50. This represents a 1.20% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ernest Michael Freedman purchased 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $49.21 per share, with a total value of $246,050.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 6,097 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $300,033.37. The trade was a 455.79% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders own 4.02% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Walker & Dunlop from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Weiss Ratings raised Walker & Dunlop from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Wall Street Zen raised Walker & Dunlop from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th. Finally, Stephens assumed coverage on Walker & Dunlop in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $69.00 price objective for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $79.20.

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.