Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ:WERN) Sets New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $32.31 and last traded at $32.48, with a volume of 744178 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $32.75.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Werner Enterprises from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Werner Enterprises from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays lowered their target price on Werner Enterprises from $40.00 to $38.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com raised Werner Enterprises from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Finally, Susquehanna raised Werner Enterprises from a "negative" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $38.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Werner Enterprises presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $37.29.

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Werner Enterprises Trading Down 1.8 %

The company's fifty day moving average is $35.45 and its 200-day moving average is $37.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.13 and a beta of 0.84.

Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ:WERN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The transportation company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.23 by ($0.15). Werner Enterprises had a net margin of 1.13% and a return on equity of 2.27%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Werner Enterprises, Inc. will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Werner Enterprises Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 14th will be issued a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 14th. Werner Enterprises's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 101.82%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in Werner Enterprises during the fourth quarter worth $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Werner Enterprises by 64.7% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,308 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Werner Enterprises by 2,390.3% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,544 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 1,482 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Werner Enterprises by 796.3% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,703 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 1,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in shares of Werner Enterprises by 43.1% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,071 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $80,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. 89.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Werner Enterprises

Werner Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in interstate and intrastate commerce in the United States, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Truckload Transportation Services and Werner Logistics.