AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) Receives $99.25 Average Price Target from Brokerages

Shares of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the eight ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $99.25.

AXS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of AXIS Capital from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on AXIS Capital from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com lowered AXIS Capital from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday. TD Cowen increased their price objective on AXIS Capital from $118.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $92.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th.

AXIS Capital Stock Performance

AXIS Capital stock traded down $1.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $90.98. 543,853 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 701,398. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $90.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $82.50. AXIS Capital has a twelve month low of $55.56 and a twelve month high of $94.89. The firm has a market cap of $7.61 billion, a PE ratio of 7.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60.

AXIS Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The insurance provider reported $2.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.29. AXIS Capital had a return on equity of 18.89% and a net margin of 18.16%. Equities analysts predict that AXIS Capital will post 11.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AXIS Capital Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. AXIS Capital's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.25%.

Institutional Trading of AXIS Capital

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of AXS. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in AXIS Capital during the 4th quarter worth about $31,118,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AXIS Capital by 7,053.2% during the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 353,941 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $31,366,000 after buying an additional 348,993 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 24.4% in the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,625,057 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $129,371,000 after buying an additional 318,784 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of AXIS Capital by 1,644.8% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 240,754 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $17,009,000 after buying an additional 226,956 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in AXIS Capital by 131.9% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 254,551 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $20,265,000 after acquiring an additional 144,792 shares during the last quarter. 93.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AXIS Capital Company Profile

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.