Versor Investments LP Purchases 57,707 Shares of Premier Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:PFC)

Versor Investments LP raised its holdings in Premier Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:PFC - Free Report) by 538.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 68,431 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 57,707 shares during the quarter. Versor Investments LP owned 0.19% of Premier Financial worth $1,607,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Premier Financial by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,983,708 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,269,000 after purchasing an additional 10,557 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Premier Financial by 18.0% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 656,177 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,425,000 after buying an additional 100,198 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Premier Financial by 7.5% during the first quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 390,967 shares of the company's stock worth $7,937,000 after acquiring an additional 27,201 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Premier Financial by 66.0% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 326,667 shares of the company's stock worth $6,684,000 after acquiring an additional 129,913 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in Premier Financial by 37.0% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 289,616 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,800,000 after acquiring an additional 78,160 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.14% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Premier Financial news, Director Donald P. Hileman sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.64, for a total value of $35,460.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 28,311 shares in the company, valued at $669,272.04. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Premier Financial news, Director Donald P. Hileman sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.64, for a total transaction of $35,460.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 28,311 shares of the company's stock, valued at $669,272.04. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Dennis E. Rose, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.01, for a total transaction of $50,020.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 38,114 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $953,231.14. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.22% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Janney Montgomery Scott reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Premier Financial in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Premier Financial currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $22.50.

Premier Financial Stock Up 3.5 %

Shares of PFC traded up $0.97 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $28.68. 118,258 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 155,662. Premier Financial Corp. has a 52 week low of $18.12 and a 52 week high of $29.11. The company has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.35 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $24.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $22.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Premier Financial (NASDAQ:PFC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.50 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $112.74 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $64.55 million. Premier Financial had a return on equity of 7.51% and a net margin of 16.06%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Premier Financial Corp. will post 2 EPS for the current year.

Premier Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.32%. Premier Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.94%.

About Premier Financial

Premier Financial Corp., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking services. It offers demand, checking, money market, and savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposits and certificates of deposit account registry service; and investment products. The company also provides residential and commercial real estate, commercial, construction, home improvement and home equity, installment, and consumer loans.