Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) Stock: Insider Frederick Eppinger Buys 3,000 Shares

Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC) CEO Frederick Eppinger bought 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 26th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $44.45 per share, for a total transaction of $133,350.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 173,675 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,719,853.75. This trade represents a 1.76% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Stewart Information Services Stock Performance

NYSE:STC opened at $44.14 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $59.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $64.95. The company has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.06 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 1.85. Stewart Information Services Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $42.66 and a fifty-two week high of $78.61.

Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The insurance provider reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.17). The firm had revenue of $900.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $903.67 million. Stewart Information Services had a return on equity of 9.39% and a net margin of 3.58%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.64 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Stewart Information Services Corporation will post 4.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Stewart Information Services Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.0%. This is a boost from Stewart Information Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.5250. Stewart Information Services’s dividend payout ratio is 55.14%.

Key Stories Impacting Stewart Information Services

Here are the key news stories impacting Stewart Information Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company insiders made a series of open-market purchases. CEO Frederick Eppinger bought 3,000 shares for approximately $133,350, while directors Deborah Jane Matz, William S. Corey Jr., Clifford Bradley Jr. and Thomas G. Apel collectively purchased 7,000 shares. The transactions occurred at prices between $43.91 and $47.73, potentially signaling that management and directors view STC as undervalued after its decline. Stewart insider buying report
• Positive Sentiment: Stewart’s quarterly dividend was increased to $0.55 per share from $0.525, providing an annualized payout of $2.20 and a yield of roughly 5.1% at recent prices. The higher dividend may attract income-focused investors.
• Neutral Sentiment: Stephens maintained an “overweight” rating but lowered its price target from $80 to $70. The target reduction reflects a more cautious outlook, although it remains well above recent trading levels and implies meaningful potential upside. Stephens forecast report
• Negative Sentiment: Recent quarterly results were below expectations. Stewart reported earnings of $1.33 per share versus the $1.50 consensus estimate, while revenue of $900.7 million was slightly below forecasts. EPS also fell from $1.64 in the prior-year quarter, raising concerns about near-term profitability.
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains mixed: Zacks downgraded the stock to “strong sell,” while the broader consensus rating is “Hold.” The shares are trading far below their moving averages, indicating that investors continue to discount weaker real-estate transaction and earnings conditions.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of STC. Caitlin John LLC bought a new stake in Stewart Information Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in Stewart Information Services in the second quarter worth approximately $42,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Stewart Information Services in the second quarter worth approximately $67,000. State of Wyoming bought a new position in Stewart Information Services in the third quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Stewart Information Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.90% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

STC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of Stewart Information Services from $80.00 to $70.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Stewart Information Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Benchmark began coverage on shares of Stewart Information Services in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $87.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, Citizens Jmp decreased their price target on Stewart Information Services from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 12th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $75.75.

About Stewart Information Services

Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) is a global provider of title insurance and real estate transaction services. Through its Stewart Title operations, the company helps protect property owners, lenders and other participants from losses arising from defects in a property’s title.

The company offers title searches and examinations, title insurance policies, escrow and closing services, settlement services, and related solutions for residential and commercial real estate transactions.