VELA Investment Management LLC Has $3.10 Million Stock Holdings in Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:AGO)

VELA Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:AGO - Free Report) by 13.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 34,428 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 4,165 shares during the period. Assured Guaranty comprises approximately 0.9% of VELA Investment Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. VELA Investment Management LLC owned about 0.07% of Assured Guaranty worth $3,099,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gladius Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Assured Guaranty during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Assured Guaranty during the third quarter valued at $38,000. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in shares of Assured Guaranty by 66.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 493 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in Assured Guaranty by 183.8% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 596 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 386 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Assured Guaranty by 155.8% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 637 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.22% of the company's stock.

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Assured Guaranty Price Performance

AGO traded down $2.90 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $86.90. 187,906 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 247,684. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Assured Guaranty Ltd. has a 52-week low of $72.57 and a 52-week high of $96.50. The company has a market capitalization of $4.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.75 and a beta of 1.11. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $91.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $86.80.

Assured Guaranty (NYSE:AGO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $199.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $199.56 million. Assured Guaranty had a net margin of 70.37% and a return on equity of 11.58%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Assured Guaranty Ltd. will post 7.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Assured Guaranty Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a $0.34 dividend. This is an increase from Assured Guaranty's previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 5th. Assured Guaranty's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.94%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Assured Guaranty from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Assured Guaranty from $92.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Assured Guaranty from $87.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th.

Assured Guaranty Profile

Assured Guaranty Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides credit protection products to public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Insurance and Asset Management. The company offers financial guaranty insurance that protects holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments.