Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) Shares Cross Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Peoples Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:PFIS - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $49.34 and traded as low as $40.09. Peoples Financial Services shares last traded at $40.67, with a volume of 19,910 shares changing hands.

Peoples Financial Services Stock Down 0.4 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $46.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $418.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.08 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by ($0.17). Peoples Financial Services had a net margin of 3.70% and a return on equity of 8.97%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Peoples Financial Services Corp. will post 5.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Peoples Financial Services Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.6175 dividend. This represents a $2.47 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Peoples Financial Services's payout ratio is 218.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Richard S. Lochen, Jr. acquired 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $47.12 per share, with a total value of $47,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,129 shares of the company's stock, valued at $807,118.48. This trade represents a 6.20 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 4.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Peoples Financial Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Hoey Investments Inc. acquired a new position in Peoples Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $126,000. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,873 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $198,000 after purchasing an additional 688 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in Peoples Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $239,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 5,279 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $270,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Martingale Asset Management L P boosted its stake in Peoples Financial Services by 11.9% during the fourth quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P now owns 5,373 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.67% of the company's stock.

Peoples Financial Services Company Profile

Peoples Financial Services Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company that provides various commercial and retail banking services. The company accepts money market, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, individual retirement, demand deposit, and certificates of deposit accounts.