AlphaQuest LLC Reduces Holdings in Stifel Financial Corporation $SF

Key Points

• AlphaQuest LLC has reduced its holdings in Stifel Financial Corporation by 52.0%, retaining 12,575 shares valued at approximately $1.305 million following the sale.
• Stifel Financial reported a 16.7% year-over-year increase in revenue, totaling $1.43 billion for the most recent quarter, with earnings per share exceeding estimates at $1.95.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share, representing an annualized dividend yield of 1.6%.

AlphaQuest LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial Corporation (NYSE:SF - Free Report) by 52.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,575 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 13,635 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Stifel Financial were worth $1,305,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SF. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Stifel Financial by 401.0% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,509 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $425,000 after acquiring an additional 3,609 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 263.2% in the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 19,711 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,858,000 after purchasing an additional 14,284 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in Stifel Financial by 31.3% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 10,505 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $990,000 after purchasing an additional 2,505 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Stifel Financial during the 1st quarter valued at about $361,000. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Stifel Financial during the first quarter worth approximately $1,165,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.01% of the company's stock.

Stifel Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SF stock opened at $117.77 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.81 and a beta of 1.13. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $113.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $104.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.82. Stifel Financial Corporation has a one year low of $73.27 and a one year high of $120.64.

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The financial services provider reported $1.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.06. Stifel Financial had a return on equity of 15.06% and a net margin of 12.44%.The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.33 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.50 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Stifel Financial Corporation will post 8.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Stifel Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 2nd. Stifel Financial's dividend payout ratio is currently 32.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on SF. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Stifel Financial in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Stifel Financial in a report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $121.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Stifel Financial from $102.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Zacks Research downgraded Stifel Financial from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, September 8th. Finally, JMP Securities increased their target price on Stifel Financial from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $125.90.

Stifel Financial Company Profile

Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other.

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