Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB) Given Average Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Shares of Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Hold" from the ten research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $27.11.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Associated Banc from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Associated Banc in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Associated Banc from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their target price on Associated Banc from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Associated Banc

In related news, Director John B. Williams sold 2,830 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.09, for a total value of $71,004.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 66,915 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,678,897.35. This represents a 4.06 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen A. Kamerick sold 7,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.71, for a total value of $172,970.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 49,495 shares in the company, valued at $1,223,021.45. This represents a 12.39 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Associated Banc during the fourth quarter worth about $37,662,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Associated Banc during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,144,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Associated Banc by 8.7% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,066,871 shares of the bank's stock valued at $431,798,000 after purchasing an additional 1,444,068 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Associated Banc by 9.4% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 14,838,422 shares of the bank's stock valued at $354,638,000 after purchasing an additional 1,272,441 shares during the period. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Associated Banc by 263.7% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,597,950 shares of the bank's stock worth $38,191,000 after purchasing an additional 1,158,576 shares during the period. 82.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Associated Banc Trading Down 3.3 %

ASB stock traded down $0.67 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $19.36. 2,877,504 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,474,327. Associated Banc has a 1-year low of $18.36 and a 1-year high of $28.18. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $23.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.21 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The bank reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.04. Associated Banc had a net margin of 5.15% and a return on equity of 8.24%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Associated Banc will post 2.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Associated Banc Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.75%. Associated Banc's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 116.46%.

About Associated Banc

Associated Banc-Corp, a bank holding company, provides various banking and nonbanking products to individuals and businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. The company offers lending solutions, including commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction loans, letters of credit, leasing, asset based lending and equipment finance, loan syndications products, residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, personal and installment loans, auto finance and business loans, and business lines of credit.