StockNews.com Lowers Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) to Sell

StockNews.com cut shares of Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Friday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on WBS. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Webster Financial from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday. Barclays lifted their price objective on Webster Financial from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Stephens set a $58.00 price target on shares of Webster Financial in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $58.00 to $55.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Webster Financial has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $57.85.

Webster Financial Trading Down 2.7 %

NYSE WBS opened at $51.50 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $46.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Webster Financial has a 12 month low of $36.36 and a 12 month high of $54.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.55, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.28.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by ($0.01). Webster Financial had a net margin of 18.80% and a return on equity of 11.03%. The firm had revenue of $647.62 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $677.72 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.55 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Webster Financial will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Webster Financial

In related news, insider Charles L. Wilkins sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.07, for a total transaction of $245,350.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 45,157 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,215,853.99. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Charles L. Wilkins sold 5,000 shares of Webster Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.07, for a total transaction of $245,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,157 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,215,853.99. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Jason A. Soto sold 1,650 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.32, for a total value of $76,428.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,539 shares in the company, valued at $951,366.48. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Webster Financial

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Webster Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Webster Financial by 340.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 595 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares in the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Webster Financial during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Webster Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its position in shares of Webster Financial by 7,650.0% in the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,240 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 1,224 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.58% of the company’s stock.

Webster Financial Company Profile

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking.