AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) Hits New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

AMERISAFE, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMSF - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $42.60 and last traded at $42.82, with a volume of 9715 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.72.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of AMERISAFE in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th.

AMERISAFE Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $821.25 million, a PE ratio of 17.38 and a beta of 0.40. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $46.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.11.

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The insurance provider reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.01. AMERISAFE had a return on equity of 16.41% and a net margin of 15.76%. The firm had revenue of $83.78 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $76.66 million. On average, sell-side analysts expect that AMERISAFE, Inc. will post 2.45 EPS for the current year.

AMERISAFE Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. AMERISAFE's dividend payout ratio is currently 62.90%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AMERISAFE

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AMERISAFE in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in AMERISAFE by 301.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,554 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 1,167 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in AMERISAFE by 19.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,600 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 257 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in AMERISAFE during the 4th quarter worth about $180,000. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC boosted its position in AMERISAFE by 336.1% during the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 3,925 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $202,000 after acquiring an additional 3,025 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.41% of the company's stock.

AMERISAFE Company Profile

AMERISAFE, Inc, an insurance holding company, underwrites workers' compensation insurance in the United States. The company provides benefits to injured employees for temporary or permanent disability, death, and medical and hospital expenses. It sells its products through retail and wholesale brokers and agents; and small and mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, including construction, trucking, logging and lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, and maritime.