Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $30.04 Million Stake in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD)

Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its stake in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD – Get Rating) by 1.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 199,072 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,506 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.62% of Walker & Dunlop worth $30,036,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WD. Clough Capital Partners L P acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 3rd quarter worth about $13,833,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 4th quarter worth about $13,397,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 4th quarter worth about $12,286,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Walker & Dunlop by 134.8% during the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 104,064 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,811,000 after acquiring an additional 59,743 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop during the 1st quarter worth about $2,111,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.61% of the company’s stock.

In other Walker & Dunlop news, EVP Paula A. Pryor sold 1,652 shares of Walker & Dunlop stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.27, for a total transaction of $218,510.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 8.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Shares of NYSE WD opened at $103.27 on Friday. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $95.51 and a fifty-two week high of $156.77. The stock has a market cap of $3.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.18 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 160.37 and a current ratio of 160.37. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $125.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $136.70.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.27. Walker & Dunlop had a net margin of 20.65% and a return on equity of 18.99%. The business had revenue of $319.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $312.72 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 42.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Walker & Dunlop, Inc. will post 9.38 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, May 19th will be given a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 18th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. Walker & Dunlop’s payout ratio is 28.30%.

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Walker & Dunlop from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Walker & Dunlop in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Walker & Dunlop from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 21st. Finally, Wolfe Research reduced their target price on Walker & Dunlop from $191.00 to $183.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Walker & Dunlop presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $163.50.

Walker & Dunlop Profile (Get Rating)

Walker & Dunlop, Inc, through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. The company offers first mortgage, second trust, supplemental, construction, mezzanine, preferred equity, small-balance, and bridge/interim loans.

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