Brandywine Trust Co. Takes Position in Wells Fargo & Company $WFC

Brandywine Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 181,904 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $15,033,000. Wells Fargo & Company comprises about 2.4% of Brandywine Trust Co.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the fourth quarter valued at about $4,512,563,000. Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 37,421,387 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,487,687,000 after buying an additional 1,760,484 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 21,197,423 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,975,600,000 after buying an additional 188,186 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 13.0% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 20,625,070 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,922,257,000 after buying an additional 2,369,260 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the second quarter worth about $1,364,923,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the company’s stock.

Wells Fargo & Company News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Profitability momentum: Wells Fargo has improved return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) from 8% in late 2020 to 14.6% at the end of 2025 and is targeting 17%–18%. Sustaining those gains could support a higher valuation as regulatory and restructuring burdens ease. Wells Fargo Hits 17%-18% ROTCE Target: Can It Sustain the Momentum?
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation appeal: An analyst comparison characterized WFC as offering a lower valuation and improving efficiency than PNC Financial, potentially giving Wells Fargo more upside if earnings remain strong. The bank’s latest reported quarter also exceeded consensus estimates for both earnings and revenue, with revenue up year over year. Wells Fargo vs. PNC Financial: Which Stock Offers Better Upside Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition speculation: Wells Fargo has become a focus of broader banking-sector merger speculation, including possible interest involving Citizens Financial. No transaction has been announced, so the development provides limited immediate fundamental impact. Wells Fargo at center of attention as acquisition speculation rises in banking sector
• Neutral Sentiment: Community investments: New affordable-housing and financial-education commitments in North Dakota and Wyoming reinforce Wells Fargo’s community-banking initiatives but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Wells Fargo Expands Affordable Senior Housing and Financial Education With $1.2 Million in North Dakota
• Negative Sentiment: Commercial real estate exposure: Wells Fargo is foreclosing on Workspace Property Trust’s roughly $1.3 billion property portfolio after declining occupancy and asset values increased financial stress. The move may enable collateral recovery, but it also underscores potential losses and credit risks in the bank’s commercial real estate book. Wells Fargo Forecloses On $1.3B Workspace Property Trust Loan

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

WFC stock opened at $85.24 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $257.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.92. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $72.78 and a 1 year high of $97.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $86.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $82.75.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.23. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 13.85% and a net margin of 17.55%.The company had revenue of $22.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.86 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.60 earnings per share. Wells Fargo & Company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 7th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is an increase from Wells Fargo & Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Wells Fargo & Company’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.07%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Phillip Securities upgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a “moderate buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $93.50 to $95.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $105.00 to $104.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $98.61.

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.