Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) Sets New 52-Week High Following Earnings Beat

Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $120.20 and last traded at $115.52, with a volume of 247 shares. The stock had previously closed at $115.21.

The financial services provider reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.96 by $0.27. Stifel Financial had a return on equity of 14.92% and a net margin of 12.98%.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This is an increase from Stifel Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. Stifel Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.38%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on SF shares. JMP Securities increased their target price on Stifel Financial from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Citigroup increased their target price on Stifel Financial from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Stifel Financial in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of Stifel Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Stifel Financial from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $107.14.

Insider Buying and Selling at Stifel Financial

In related news, COO David D. Sliney sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.18, for a total value of $2,904,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 159,619 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,544,535.42. This represents a 13.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 4.57% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stifel Financial

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Waldron Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Stifel Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in Stifel Financial by 46.5% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 457 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Stifel Financial by 27.7% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 503 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 14.6% in the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 707 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 870 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $82,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.01% of the company's stock.

Stifel Financial Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $110.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $99.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.04 billion, a PE ratio of 21.27 and a beta of 1.11.

About Stifel Financial

Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other.