Intech Investment Management LLC Purchases 5,020 Shares of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS)

Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) by 170.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,966 shares of the insurance provider's stock after buying an additional 5,020 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC's holdings in AXIS Capital were worth $706,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in AXIS Capital by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 371,557 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $30,070,000 after buying an additional 121,437 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of AXIS Capital during the 3rd quarter valued at about $638,000. Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AXIS Capital during the 3rd quarter valued at $453,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of AXIS Capital by 3.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,267,338 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $100,921,000 after buying an additional 43,687 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of AXIS Capital in the 4th quarter worth about $300,000. 93.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AXIS Capital Stock Performance

Shares of AXS traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $99.72. The stock had a trading volume of 781,739 shares, compared to its average volume of 569,043. AXIS Capital Holdings Limited has a 12 month low of $60.45 and a 12 month high of $101.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $92.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $87.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.06 billion, a PE ratio of 8.07, a PEG ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.91.

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AXIS Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The insurance provider reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.29. AXIS Capital had a net margin of 18.16% and a return on equity of 18.89%. Analysts anticipate that AXIS Capital Holdings Limited will post 11.19 EPS for the current year.

AXIS Capital Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. AXIS Capital's dividend payout ratio is presently 14.25%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Charles A. Davis sold 2,139,037 shares of AXIS Capital stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.50, for a total transaction of $199,999,959.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,404,133 shares in the company, valued at approximately $224,786,435.50. The trade was a 47.08 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on AXS. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of AXIS Capital from $118.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of AXIS Capital from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on AXIS Capital from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. StockNews.com raised AXIS Capital from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on AXIS Capital in a report on Monday, January 13th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $93.00 price target on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $100.25.

AXIS Capital 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.