Vest Financial LLC Has $2.48 Million Stake in Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT)

Vest Financial LLC grew its position in Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT - Free Report) by 94.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 45,618 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 22,160 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC's holdings in Essent Group were worth $2,483,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Inspire Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Essent Group by 2.8% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 6,418 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $413,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Essent Group by 2.0% in the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 15,552 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,000,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares during the last quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC increased its position in shares of Essent Group by 1.3% in the third quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 32,752 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,106,000 after acquiring an additional 406 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in Essent Group by 726.8% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 463 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 407 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV increased its position in Essent Group by 15.8% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 3,009 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $193,000 after buying an additional 410 shares during the last quarter. 93.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Essent Group Stock Performance

Shares of ESNT stock traded down $1.03 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $57.07. The company had a trading volume of 607,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 739,535. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.11. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $56.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $59.16. Essent Group Ltd. has a one year low of $51.32 and a one year high of $65.33.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on Essent Group from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Essent Group from $73.00 to $67.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays cut Essent Group from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $69.00 to $58.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Essent Group from $67.00 to $60.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Essent Group from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $62.71.

About Essent Group

Essent Group Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance for mortgages secured by residential properties located in the United States. Its mortgage insurance products include primary, pool, and master policy. The company also provides information technology maintenance and development services; customer support-related services; underwriting consulting; and contract underwriting services, as well as risk management products and title insurance and settlement services.