Headlands Technologies LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK)

Key Points

• Headlands Technologies LLC significantly increased its stake in Verisk Analytics by 23,562.8% during Q1, owning 10,175 shares worth approximately $3.03 million as of the latest reporting period.
• Verisk Analytics announced a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, with the payment scheduled for September 30th, reflecting a dividend yield of 0.7%.
• Recent earnings reports indicate Verisk Analytics achieved an EPS of $1.88, surpassing estimates, with revenues of $772.60 million for the quarter, marking a 7.8% growth year-over-year.

Headlands Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK - Free Report) by 23,562.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,175 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 10,132 shares during the quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC's holdings in Verisk Analytics were worth $3,028,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Louisbourg Investments Inc. purchased a new stake in Verisk Analytics during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Global Financial Private Client LLC increased its position in shares of Verisk Analytics by 966.7% in the 1st quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC now owns 128 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the period. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Verisk Analytics in the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Verisk Analytics during the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics by 186.7% in the first quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 172 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.00% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Verisk Analytics news, Director Samuel G. Liss sold 11,656 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $313.06, for a total transaction of $3,649,027.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 67,244 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,051,406.64. This represents a 14.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Kathy Card Beckles sold 326 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.86, for a total value of $98,080.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 9,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,803,714.34. This trade represents a 3.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 28,825 shares of company stock worth $8,947,730. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Verisk Analytics Stock Performance

NASDAQ VRSK opened at $264.98 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.83, a PEG ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 0.83. Verisk Analytics, Inc. has a twelve month low of $260.17 and a twelve month high of $322.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.34. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $302.44 and a 200 day moving average of $297.02.

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The business services provider reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $772.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $767.91 million. Verisk Analytics had a return on equity of 460.89% and a net margin of 30.67%. Verisk Analytics's quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.74 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Verisk Analytics, Inc. will post 6.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Verisk Analytics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. Verisk Analytics's dividend payout ratio is 27.73%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRSK has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Verisk Analytics in a report on Thursday, April 10th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $280.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Verisk Analytics from $320.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $315.00 price target (down from $325.00) on shares of Verisk Analytics in a report on Monday. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Verisk Analytics from $320.00 to $300.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Verisk Analytics from $317.00 to $319.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $305.60.

About Verisk Analytics

Verisk Analytics, Inc provides data analytics and technology solutions to the insurance markets in the United States and internationally. It offers policy language, prospective loss costs, policy writing and rating rules, and various underwriting solutions for risk selection and segmentation, pricing, and workflow optimization; property- and auto- specific rating and underwriting information solutions that allows clients to understand, quantify, underwrite, mitigate, and avoid potential loss for risks; catastrophe modeling solutions, which enables companies to identify, quantify, and plan for the financial consequences of catastrophes for use by insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries, financial institutions, and governments.

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