Stifel Financial Corporation (NYSE:SF) Short Interest Update

Stifel Financial Corporation (NYSE:SF) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 4,870,686 shares, a growth of 56.4% from the February 12th total of 3,114,627 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,834,973 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.7 days. Currently, 3.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Currently, 3.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,834,973 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.7 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on SF shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Stifel Financial from $88.67 to $90.67 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Citigroup restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Stifel Financial in a report on Monday, January 12th. Citizens Jmp lifted their price objective on Stifel Financial from $93.33 to $103.33 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $92.00 price target on shares of Stifel Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Stifel Financial from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Stifel Financial has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $90.13.

Stifel Financial Price Performance

Shares of Stifel Financial stock traded down $0.56 during trading on Friday, reaching $70.26. 1,122,943 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,522,068. Stifel Financial has a 52-week low of $48.85 and a 52-week high of $89.83. The company has a market capitalization of $10.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.92 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $79.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.80.

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.50 billion. Stifel Financial had a return on equity of 15.53% and a net margin of 12.37%.Stifel Financial’s revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.49 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Stifel Financial will post 8.26 EPS for the current year.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This is a boost from Stifel Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Stifel Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.69%.

Insider Activity at Stifel Financial

In related news, insider David Rubulotta sold 600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.87, for a total transaction of $49,724.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 1,488 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $123,315.52. This trade represents a 28.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 3.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Stifel Financial during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Activest Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 12,000.0% during the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 242 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Stifel Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its stake in Stifel Financial by 2,383.3% in the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 298 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Stifel Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.01% of the company’s stock.

Stifel Financial Company Profile

Stifel Financial Corp. is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1890, the firm has grown into a full‐service brokerage and investment banking organization serving individual investors, corporations and institutions. Through its principal subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, the company delivers a broad array of financial products and services backed by research‐driven insights.

The firm’s main business activities are organized into two core segments: Private Client Group and Institutional Group.