Brandywine Trust Co. Invests $15.03 Million in Wells Fargo & Company $WFC

Key Points

• Brandywine Trust Co. acquired 181,904 Wells Fargo shares worth approximately $15.03 million during the second quarter, making WFC its sixth-largest holding and 2.4% of its portfolio.
• Wells Fargo reported quarterly EPS of $1.96, beating estimates of $1.73, while revenue rose 8.6% year over year to $22.62 billion. The bank also raised its quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share, implying a 2.3% annualized yield.
• Analysts give Wells Fargo a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with a $98.61 target price, though commercial real estate exposure remains a key risk amid foreclosure actions involving a roughly $1.3 billion property portfolio.

Brandywine Trust Co. purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 181,904 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $15,033,000. Wells Fargo & Company accounts for about 2.4% of Brandywine Trust Co.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of WFC. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. now owns 3,351 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $312,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. MFA Wealth Services raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.7% in the second quarter. MFA Wealth Services now owns 16,712 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,381,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Simmons Bank lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 6,359 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $593,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC now owns 7,754 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $722,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,846 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $566,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the company's stock.

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.5%

WFC opened at $85.24 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $257.77 billion, a PE ratio of 12.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52 week low of $72.78 and a 52 week high of $97.76. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $86.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.75.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.23. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 13.85% and a net margin of 17.55%.The firm had revenue of $22.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.60 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 7th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is a positive change from Wells Fargo & Company's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Wells Fargo & Company's payout ratio is 29.07%.

Key Stories Impacting Wells Fargo & Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Profitability momentum: Wells Fargo has improved return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) from 8% in late 2020 to 14.6% at the end of 2025 and is targeting 17%–18%. Sustaining those gains could support a higher valuation as regulatory and restructuring burdens ease. Wells Fargo Hits 17%-18% ROTCE Target: Can It Sustain the Momentum?
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation appeal: An analyst comparison characterized WFC as offering a lower valuation and improving efficiency than PNC Financial, potentially giving Wells Fargo more upside if earnings remain strong. The bank’s latest reported quarter also exceeded consensus estimates for both earnings and revenue, with revenue up year over year. Wells Fargo vs. PNC Financial: Which Stock Offers Better Upside Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition speculation: Wells Fargo has become a focus of broader banking-sector merger speculation, including possible interest involving Citizens Financial. No transaction has been announced, so the development provides limited immediate fundamental impact. Wells Fargo at center of attention as acquisition speculation rises in banking sector
• Neutral Sentiment: Community investments: New affordable-housing and financial-education commitments in North Dakota and Wyoming reinforce Wells Fargo’s community-banking initiatives but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Wells Fargo Expands Affordable Senior Housing and Financial Education With $1.2 Million in North Dakota
• Negative Sentiment: Commercial real estate exposure: Wells Fargo is foreclosing on Workspace Property Trust’s roughly $1.3 billion property portfolio after declining occupancy and asset values increased financial stress. The move may enable collateral recovery, but it also underscores potential losses and credit risks in the bank’s commercial real estate book. Wells Fargo Forecloses On $1.3B Workspace Property Trust Loan

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on WFC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $93.50 to $95.50 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Phillip Securities upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a "moderate buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $97.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, June 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $98.61.

Wells Fargo & Company Profile

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

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