Enterprise Financial Services (NASDAQ:EFSC) Sets New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Enterprise Financial Services Corporation (NASDAQ:EFSC)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $64.35 and last traded at $64.12, with a volume of 185078 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $63.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Enterprise Financial Services from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 23rd. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Enterprise Financial Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Enterprise Financial Services in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on shares of Enterprise Financial Services from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $66.00.

Enterprise Financial Services Trading Down 0.1%

The company has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.83 and a beta of 0.80. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $59.62 and its 200-day moving average is $57.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

Enterprise Financial Services (NASDAQ:EFSC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The bank reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $188.85 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $174.02 million. Enterprise Financial Services had a net margin of 19.81% and a return on equity of 10.35%. Research analysts anticipate that Enterprise Financial Services Corporation will post 5.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Enterprise Financial Services Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This is a positive change from Enterprise Financial Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Enterprise Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.66%.

Insider Transactions at Enterprise Financial Services

In related news, EVP Mark G. Ponder sold 1,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.55, for a total value of $75,687.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,526 shares in the company, valued at $1,424,499.30. The trade was a 5.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Enterprise Financial Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EFSC. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Enterprise Financial Services by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,952,106 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $159,414,000 after acquiring an additional 329,346 shares during the period. Glenmede Trust Co. NA purchased a new stake in shares of Enterprise Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $10,093,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 2,090.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 105,077 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $5,674,000 after purchasing an additional 100,281 shares during the last quarter. Endeavour Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 109.8% during the 4th quarter. Endeavour Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 185,240 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $10,003,000 after purchasing an additional 96,926 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,471,244 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $79,447,000 after purchasing an additional 83,626 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.21% of the company’s stock.

About Enterprise Financial Services

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ: EFSC) is a bank holding company headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, operating through its primary subsidiary, Enterprise Bank & Trust. The company provides a comprehensive range of banking and financial services to individuals, small- and mid-sized businesses, and institutional clients. Its capabilities encompass deposit products, lending solutions, mortgage banking, and treasury management, supported by a full suite of digital banking tools and personalized client service.

In its commercial banking segment, Enterprise Bank & Trust offers lines of credit, equipment financing, commercial real estate loans, construction lending and agriculture lending.