Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Purchases 103,358 Shares of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT)

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT - Free Report) by 3,002.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 106,801 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 103,358 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.10% of Essent Group worth $5,814,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Essent Group in the 4th quarter worth $69,364,000. Cooke & Bieler LP increased its holdings in Essent Group by 45.9% in the fourth quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 2,228,925 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $121,343,000 after purchasing an additional 700,730 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Essent Group by 43.2% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,709,029 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $93,040,000 after buying an additional 515,171 shares during the last quarter. Walleye Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Essent Group by 144.8% during the fourth quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 846,169 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $46,065,000 after buying an additional 500,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Essent Group by 29.3% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,966,171 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $107,038,000 after buying an additional 445,012 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.00% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Douglas J. Pauls sold 3,000 shares of Essent Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.80, for a total transaction of $179,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 27,165 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,624,467. This trade represents a 9.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Mary Lourdes Gibbons sold 1,777 shares of Essent Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.07, for a total value of $106,744.39. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 253,022 shares of the company's stock, valued at $15,199,031.54. The trade was a 0.70% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 5,001 shares of company stock worth $299,591 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 3.40% of the company's stock.

Essent Group Stock Down 0.4%

Essent Group stock traded down $0.24 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $58.01. 679,681 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 645,689. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.48, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.87. Essent Group Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $51.61 and a fifty-two week high of $65.34. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $56.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $56.44.

Essent Group (NYSE:ESNT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 9th. The financial services provider reported $1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $317.56 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $311.18 million. Essent Group had a return on equity of 13.35% and a net margin of 58.69%. Essent Group's revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.70 EPS. Research analysts expect that Essent Group Ltd. will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

Essent Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Essent Group's payout ratio is 18.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on ESNT shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Essent Group in a research note on Friday, May 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Essent Group in a research note on Friday, May 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Essent Group from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $60.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Compass Point set a $69.00 price target on Essent Group and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Essent Group in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five 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 $63.29.

Essent Group Company Profile

Essent Group Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance for mortgages secured by residential properties located in the United States. Its mortgage insurance products include primary, pool, and master policy. The company also provides information technology maintenance and development services; customer support-related services; underwriting consulting; and contract underwriting services, as well as risk management products and title insurance and settlement services.