Russell Investments Group Ltd. Has $3.08 Million Position in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. $WD

Key Points

• Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in Walker & Dunlop by 107.0% during the 1st quarter, holding 36,127 shares worth approximately $3.08 million.
• Walker & Dunlop reported a quarterly net margin of 9.27% and a year-over-year revenue increase of 17.9%, despite missing earnings expectations.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.67 per share, representing a 3.1% dividend yield and an annualized payout of $2.68.

Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its holdings in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD - Free Report) by 107.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,127 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 18,678 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.11% of Walker & Dunlop worth $3,084,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in Walker & Dunlop by 4.3% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 20,688 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,766,000 after purchasing an additional 850 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in Walker & Dunlop by 27.2% in the first quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 101,681 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $8,679,000 after purchasing an additional 21,714 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Walker & Dunlop in the first quarter worth about $11,170,000. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in Walker & Dunlop in the first quarter worth about $303,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Walker & Dunlop by 81.9% in the first quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 724 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.97% of the company's stock.

Walker & Dunlop Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WD traded down $0.89 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $85.98. 171,949 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 242,693. The company has a market cap of $2.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.54 and a beta of 1.57. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $76.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $77.35. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a twelve month low of $64.48 and a twelve month high of $118.19.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The financial services provider reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.29 by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $319.24 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $275.84 million. Walker & Dunlop had a return on equity of 8.81% and a net margin of 9.27%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.23 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Walker & Dunlop, Inc. will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walker & Dunlop Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 21st will be issued a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 21st. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. Walker & Dunlop's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on WD. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Walker & Dunlop from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. Wedbush reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $90.00 price target on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Walker & Dunlop currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $92.50.

Walker & Dunlop Profile

Walker & Dunlop, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial real estate and finance services. It operates through the following segments: Capital Markets, Servicing and Asset Management, and Corporate. The Capital Markets segment offers a comprehensive range of commercial real estate finance products to customers.