First Trust Advisors LP Grows Stake in ExlService Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXLS)

First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of ExlService Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXLS - Free Report) by 49.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 173,239 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 57,575 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP owned approximately 0.11% of ExlService worth $7,688,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its position in ExlService by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 14,270 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $633,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the period. Kensington Investment Counsel LLC raised its holdings in ExlService by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Kensington Investment Counsel LLC now owns 39,207 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,740,000 after buying an additional 282 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in ExlService by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,926 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $85,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its stake in ExlService by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 6,497 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 311 shares during the period. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP raised its stake in shares of ExlService by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 6,677 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 421 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.92% of the company's stock.

ExlService Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EXLS traded up $0.10 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $46.97. The stock had a trading volume of 112,296 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,019,719. The firm has a market cap of $7.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.26, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.86. ExlService Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $28.59 and a fifty-two week high of $52.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $45.89 and a 200-day moving average of $46.10. The company has a current ratio of 3.02, a quick ratio of 3.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

ExlService (NASDAQ:EXLS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.03. ExlService had a net margin of 10.61% and a return on equity of 23.23%. The business had revenue of $501.02 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $489.66 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.38 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that ExlService Holdings, Inc. will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on EXLS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of ExlService from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of ExlService from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. StockNews.com downgraded ExlService from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of ExlService from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on ExlService from $48.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $50.57.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Anita Mahon sold 10,558 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.92, for a total value of $484,823.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,443 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,336,822.56. This trade represents a 10.06 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ajay Ayyappan sold 16,186 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.50, for a total value of $833,579.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 40,986 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,110,779. The trade was a 28.31 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 33,598 shares of company stock valued at $1,661,461. Company insiders own 4.16% of the company's stock.

ExlService Company Profile

ExlService Holdings, Inc operates as a data analytics, and digital operations and solutions company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Insurance, Healthcare, Analytics, and Emerging Business segments. It also provides digital operations and solutions and analytics-driven services, such as claims processing, premium and benefit administration, agency management, account reconciliation, policy research, underwriting support, new business acquisition, policy servicing, premium audit, surveys, billing and collection, commercial and residential survey, and customer service using digital technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced automation; digital customer acquisition services using a software-as-a-service delivery model through LifePRO and LISS platforms; subrogation services; and Subrosource software platform, an end-to-end subrogation platform.