West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA) Stock Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

West Bancorporation, Inc. (NASDAQ:WTBA - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $21.24 and traded as high as $22.52. West Bancorporation shares last traded at $22.21, with a volume of 14,696 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of West Bancorporation from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of West Bancorporation from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

West Bancorporation Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The company has a market cap of $363.42 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.10 and a beta of 0.97. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $21.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.37.

West Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WTBA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.02. West Bancorporation had a net margin of 12.12% and a return on equity of 10.56%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.27 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that West Bancorporation, Inc. will post 1.65 EPS for the current year.

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West Bancorporation Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 5th. West Bancorporation's payout ratio is currently 69.93%.

Institutional Trading of West Bancorporation

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in West Bancorporation by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 6,658 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 678 shares during the last quarter. City State Bank boosted its holdings in West Bancorporation by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. City State Bank now owns 8,354 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $181,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new position in West Bancorporation in the fourth quarter worth $226,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in West Bancorporation in the fourth quarter worth $232,000. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in West Bancorporation by 20.4% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 12,157 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $263,000 after purchasing an additional 2,062 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.30% of the company's stock.

West Bancorporation Company Profile

West Bancorporation, Inc operates as the financial holding company provides community banking and trust services to individuals and small- to medium-sized businesses in the United States. It offers deposit services, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time certificates of deposit.