OFI Invest Asset Management Grows Position in Wells Fargo & Company $WFC

Key Points

• OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its stake in Wells Fargo by 163.5% in Q4 to 957,897 shares (worth $89.28 million), making WFC its 16th largest holding and 1.1% of the fund's portfolio.
• Company insiders have been net sellers recently — EVPs Ellen R. Patterson and Bridget E. Engle sold 60,000 and 30,000 shares respectively, and insiders sold a total of 115,000 shares (~$10.05 million) in the last 90 days.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed but constructive: Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy and $100 target while JPMorgan trimmed its target to $91, and WFC trades up (~3.6%) with a $0.45 quarterly dividend (2.1% yield) and a consensus price target near $97.70.

OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 163.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 957,897 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 594,379 shares during the quarter. Wells Fargo & Company makes up 1.1% of OFI Invest Asset Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. OFI Invest Asset Management's holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $89,276,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 472.4% during the 3rd quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 332 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the last quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Main Street Group LTD increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 36.9% during the 3rd quarter. Main Street Group LTD now owns 438 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Wells Fargo & Company

In other news, EVP Ellen R. Patterson sold 60,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.40, for a total transaction of $5,244,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 169,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,813,950.40. This represents a 26.14% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Bridget E. Engle sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.10, for a total value of $2,613,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 83,478 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,270,933.80. The trade was a 26.44% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 115,000 shares of company stock worth $10,050,000. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Wells Fargo & Company

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

• Positive Sentiment: Macro ceasefire lifts banks — Wells Fargo rallied after President Trump announced a two‑week suspension of attacks on Iran, sending oil prices lower and easing immediate growth and cost worries for banks. This was a direct, short‑term positive for WFC. Wells Fargo (WFC) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies bullish initiation — Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy and $100 price target, arguing WFC is starting a multi‑year recovery; that endorsement provides a bullish counterweight to recent cuts. Here’s Why Jefferies Remains a Buy on Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings preview and expectations — Multiple previews note WFC is expected to report growth but may lack the setup for an obvious beat; investors should focus on loan growth, NII (net interest income) and guidance on Fed‑rate outlook. Wells Fargo (WFC) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Balance‑sheet and product moves — Recent senior note issuances and an expanded FX payments workflow (partnerships enabling community banks to send foreign‑currency wires) signal active funding and fee‑income initiatives; these are constructive but incremental. Is Wells Fargo (WFC) Quietly Redefining Its Balance Sheet Strategy With New Notes and FX Deals?
• Neutral Sentiment: Community investment — A $6M philanthropic investment in West Charlotte improves PR and community lending ties but is unlikely to move near‑term earnings. Wells Fargo Helps Drive Growth in West Charlotte with $6 Million
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target cuts and caution — JPMorgan trimmed its WFC price target (citing volatility/risk in the banking outlook) and issued a more cautious view, which caps near‑term analyst‑driven upside and can weigh on momentum if other brokers follow. JPMorgan Trims Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) Target, Flags Volatility Risks for Banks

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 3.6%

WFC stock opened at $84.72 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $261.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.51, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.06. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $59.43 and a fifty-two week high of $97.76. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $83.48 and a 200-day moving average of $86.19.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $21.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.90% and a net margin of 17.27%.The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 6th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Wells Fargo & Company's dividend payout ratio is presently 28.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on WFC. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $99.50 to $91.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. HSBC raised Wells Fargo & Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $94.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $97.70.

About Wells Fargo & Company

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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