Franklin Resources Inc. Boosts Stake in Veritex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:VBTX)

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Veritex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:VBTX - Free Report) by 21.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 89,422 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 16,001 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.16% of Veritex worth $2,429,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Veritex by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,874,917 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $105,243,000 after purchasing an additional 39,746 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Veritex by 1.4% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,293,966 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,064,000 after buying an additional 18,185 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of Veritex by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 789,909 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $21,454,000 after acquiring an additional 14,924 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Veritex by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 741,274 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $20,133,000 after acquiring an additional 8,409 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Veritex by 12.9% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 712,727 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $19,358,000 after acquiring an additional 81,355 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.31% of the company's stock.

Veritex Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:VBTX traded up $0.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $21.79. 620,847 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 394,864. The stock has a market cap of $1.19 billion, a PE ratio of 11.17 and a beta of 1.11. The business's fifty day moving average is $24.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.49. Veritex Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $18.74 and a one year high of $31.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Veritex (NASDAQ:VBTX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.02). Veritex had a net margin of 13.44% and a return on equity of 7.59%. As a group, analysts predict that Veritex Holdings, Inc. will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Veritex Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.67%. Veritex's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on VBTX shares. Raymond James cut Veritex from a "strong-buy" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $31.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. DA Davidson restated a "buy" rating and set a $34.00 target price on shares of Veritex in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Stephens dropped their price target on shares of Veritex from $34.00 to $31.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Hovde Group raised shares of Veritex from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $31.50 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $30.90.

Veritex Company Profile

Veritex Holdings, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Veritex Community Bank that provides various commercial banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, and professionals. The company accepts deposit products include demand, savings, money market, and time accounts. Its loan products include commercial real estate and general commercial, mortgage warehouse loans, residential real estate, construction and land, farmland, paycheck protection program, 1-4 family residential, agricultural, multi-family residential, and consumer loans, as well as purchased receivables financing.