Empowered Funds LLC Sells 15,815 Shares of Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQBK)

Empowered Funds LLC cut its holdings in Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQBK - Free Report) by 21.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 58,581 shares of the bank's stock after selling 15,815 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC owned approximately 0.38% of Equity Bancshares worth $2,485,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in Equity Bancshares by 74.1% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 5,052 shares of the bank's stock valued at $207,000 after acquiring an additional 2,150 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in Equity Bancshares by 4.4% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 80,133 shares of the bank's stock valued at $3,276,000 after acquiring an additional 3,399 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Equity Bancshares in the third quarter valued at about $203,000. Sippican Capital Advisors boosted its holdings in Equity Bancshares by 24.4% in the third quarter. Sippican Capital Advisors now owns 17,667 shares of the bank's stock valued at $722,000 after acquiring an additional 3,462 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Triune Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Equity Bancshares in the third quarter valued at about $268,000. 71.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Equity Bancshares Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ:EQBK traded up $0.46 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $43.82. 7,208 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 70,479. Equity Bancshares, Inc. has a 52 week low of $30.44 and a 52 week high of $50.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The company has a market cap of $670.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.01 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $43.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $42.60.

Equity Bancshares Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.37%. Equity Bancshares's dividend payout ratio is currently 15.08%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on EQBK shares. Stephens decreased their price target on Equity Bancshares from $52.00 to $49.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Hovde Group raised their target price on Equity Bancshares from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. DA Davidson reduced their target price on Equity Bancshares from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Equity Bancshares from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Equity Bancshares currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $48.00.

Equity Bancshares Profile

Equity Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Equity Bank that provides a range of banking, mortgage banking, and financial services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts various demand, savings, money market, and time deposits. Its loan products include commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, commercial lines of credit, working capital, term, equipment and aircraft financing, acquisition, expansion and development, borrowing base, real estate construction, homebuilder, agricultural, government guaranteed, and other loan products.