Brokerages Set Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:WBS) PT at $74.25

Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:WBS) has been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $74.25.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on WBS shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $79.00 to $77.50 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 1st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Webster Financial in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Webster Financial from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd.

Webster Financial Price Performance

Shares of WBS stock opened at $78.92 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.87. Webster Financial has a 52-week low of $52.69 and a 52-week high of $79.74. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $76.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.79. The stock has a market cap of $12.79 billion, a PE ratio of 12.83 and a beta of 1.01.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $769.23 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $755.80 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 22.78% and a return on equity of 11.23%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.52 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Webster Financial will post 6.59 EPS for the current year.

Webster Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 20th. Investors of record on Monday, August 10th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 10th. Webster Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 26.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Webster Financial

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in Webster Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC bought a new position in Webster Financial in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Webster Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 246.8% in the first quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 437 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Webster Financial in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 85.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Webster Financial Company Profile

Webster Financial Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through its principal subsidiary, Webster Bank, N.A., the company offers a broad range of banking products and financial services to individuals, small businesses, and middle-market commercial clients. Key offerings include deposit accounts, residential and commercial real estate lending, equipment finance, treasury management, and payment processing solutions.

In addition to traditional banking services, Webster Financial provides wealth management and insurance products designed to help clients plan for retirement, preserve assets, and manage risk.