Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) Stock Price Passes Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - What's Next?

Peoples Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:PFIS - Get Free Report) crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $49.74 and traded as low as $45.51. Peoples Financial Services shares last traded at $45.84, with a volume of 15,343 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Stephens upgraded Peoples Financial Services from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th.

Peoples Financial Services Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $451.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.96 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $49.43 and a 200-day moving average price of $49.67.

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

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Peoples Financial Services Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.6175 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $2.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.47%. Peoples Financial Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 218.58%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Richard S. Lochen, Jr. acquired 1,000 shares of Peoples Financial Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $47.12 per share, for a total transaction of $47,120.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 17,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $807,118.48. This represents a 6.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 4.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Peoples Financial Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Hoey Investments Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth approximately $126,000. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in Peoples Financial Services by 21.6% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,873 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $198,000 after acquiring an additional 688 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $239,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Martingale Asset Management L P raised its holdings in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P now owns 5,373 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. 31.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.