Verisk Analytics, Inc. $VRSK Shares Bought by Dearborn Partners LLC

Key Points

• Dearborn Partners LLC sharply increased its Verisk Analytics stake by 1,521.9% in the fourth quarter, ending with 88,440 shares valued at about $19.8 million. Several other institutional investors also boosted holdings, and institutions now own 90% of the stock.
• Verisk reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $1.82 versus $1.76 expected and revenue of $782.6 million, up 4% year over year. The company also maintained FY2026 EPS guidance of $7.45 to $7.75.
• The company authorized a $2.5 billion share buyback and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, payable June 30, for an annualized yield of about 1.1%. Meanwhile, insiders have been selling shares, including two directors in early June.

Dearborn Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK - Free Report) by 1,521.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 88,440 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 82,987 shares during the period. Dearborn Partners LLC owned about 0.06% of Verisk Analytics worth $19,783,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VRSK. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Verisk Analytics during the 4th quarter valued at $346,457,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Verisk Analytics by 334.5% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 754,548 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $188,237,000 after purchasing an additional 580,885 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in Verisk Analytics by 1,879.0% during the 3rd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 566,235 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $142,414,000 after purchasing an additional 537,623 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in Verisk Analytics by 232.3% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 760,599 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $191,298,000 after purchasing an additional 531,713 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its stake in Verisk Analytics by 114.3% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 987,011 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $248,243,000 after purchasing an additional 526,508 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.00% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Verisk Analytics

In other news, Director Samuel G. Liss sold 6,765 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.63, for a total value of $1,201,666.95. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 69,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,273,877.74. This represents a 8.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Bruce Edward Hansen sold 2,336 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.99, for a total transaction of $408,776.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 15,868 shares in the company, valued at $2,776,741.32. This trade represents a 12.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 12,636 shares of company stock valued at $2,225,119. 0.52% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Verisk Analytics Trading Up 1.0%

NASDAQ VRSK opened at $181.73 on Friday. Verisk Analytics, Inc. has a 1-year low of $155.94 and a 1-year high of $321.83. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.42. The company has a market capitalization of $23.81 billion, a PE ratio of 27.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.69. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $176.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $198.24.

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The business services provider reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.06. Verisk Analytics had a net margin of 29.34% and a negative return on equity of 2,405.75%. The business had revenue of $782.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $771.62 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.73 earnings per share. Verisk Analytics's revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Verisk Analytics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.450-7.750 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Verisk Analytics, Inc. will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verisk Analytics declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the business services provider to purchase up to 10.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Verisk Analytics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Verisk Analytics's dividend payout ratio is 30.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on VRSK shares. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Verisk Analytics in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Verisk Analytics from $225.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Verisk Analytics from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Robert W. Baird set a $230.00 target price on shares of Verisk Analytics in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Verisk Analytics from $223.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $237.20.

About Verisk Analytics

Verisk Analytics, Inc NASDAQ: VRSK is a data analytics and decision‑support provider that helps organizations assess and manage risk. The company supplies data, predictive models and software to customers in insurance, reinsurance, financial services, government, energy and other commercial markets. Its offerings are designed to support underwriting, pricing, claims management, catastrophe modeling, fraud detection and regulatory compliance, enabling clients to make more informed operational and strategic decisions.

Verisk's product portfolio combines large proprietary datasets with analytics platforms and industry‑specific applications.

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