Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) is Essex Investment Management Co. LLC's 7th Largest Position

Key Points

• Essex Investment Management has reduced its stake in Guidewire Software by 10.7%, owning 38,831 shares valued at approximately $7.28 million, making it the 7th largest holding in their portfolio.
• Guidewire Software reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.88 for the most recent quarter, significantly outperforming analysts' expectations of $0.47, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 22.0%.
• Analysts have recently upgraded Guidewire Software's stock rating multiple times, with target prices increased, reflecting a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $250.92.

Essex Investment Management Co. LLC decreased its stake in shares of Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE - Free Report) by 10.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,831 shares of the technology company's stock after selling 4,656 shares during the quarter. Guidewire Software makes up 1.5% of Essex Investment Management Co. LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC's holdings in Guidewire Software were worth $7,275,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Guidewire Software by 403.8% during the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 131 shares of the technology company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in Guidewire Software by 70.0% during the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 170 shares of the technology company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Ossiam purchased a new position in Guidewire Software during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC purchased a new position in Guidewire Software during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Guidewire Software by 101.0% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 197 shares of the technology company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter.

Insider Transactions at Guidewire Software

In other news, President John P. Mullen sold 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.05, for a total value of $705,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president directly owned 146,489 shares of the company's stock, valued at $34,432,239.45. The trade was a 2.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael George Rosenbaum sold 1,400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.65, for a total value of $308,910.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 233,068 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $51,426,454.20. This trade represents a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 21,342 shares of company stock valued at $4,879,599 over the last three months. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GWRE has been the topic of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Guidewire Software from $235.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Guidewire Software from $199.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. JMP Securities lifted their target price on Guidewire Software from $250.00 to $281.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Guidewire Software from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $290.00 target price on shares of Guidewire Software in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Guidewire Software presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $250.92.

Guidewire Software Price Performance

GWRE stock traded down $3.84 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $222.38. 308,375 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 996,886. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $231.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $209.47. The stock has a market cap of $18.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 556.33, a PEG ratio of 20.01 and a beta of 1.16. Guidewire Software, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $132.01 and a fifty-two week high of $263.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 3.23 and a current ratio of 3.23.

Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 3rd. The technology company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $293.51 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $286.40 million. Guidewire Software had a return on equity of 6.96% and a net margin of 3.04%. Guidewire Software's revenue was up 22.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.26 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Guidewire Software, Inc. will post 0.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Guidewire Software Profile

Guidewire Software, Inc provides a platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurers worldwide. The company offers Guidewire InsuranceSuite Cloud, such as PolicyCenter Cloud, BillingCenter Cloud, and ClaimCenter Cloud applications. It also provides Guidewire InsuranceNow, a cloud-based platform that offers policy, billing, and claims management functionality to insurers; and Guidewire InsuranceSuite for Self-Managed.