Guaranty Bancshares (NASDAQ:GNTY) Sets New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Guaranty Bancshares reached a new 52-week high of $51.53, increasing 5.2% in trading with a volume of 12,784 shares.
• The company announced a special $2.30 dividend for investors of record on September 19th, with a payout ratio of 31.85%.
• Currently, Guaranty Bancshares has an average analyst rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $45.00.

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNTY - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $51.15 and last traded at $51.53, with a volume of 12784 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $48.71.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $47.00 price objective on shares of Guaranty Bancshares in a research report on Monday, June 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Guaranty Bancshares has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $45.00.

Guaranty Bancshares Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.92. The company has a market cap of $563.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.05 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.83.

Guaranty Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 19th will be paid a dividend of $2.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 19th. Guaranty Bancshares's payout ratio is 31.85%.

Insider Activity at Guaranty Bancshares

In other news, EVP William Travis Brown sold 706 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.58, for a total value of $34,297.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 615 shares of the company's stock, valued at $29,876.70. This represents a 53.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 22.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Guaranty Bancshares

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GNTY. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Guaranty Bancshares by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 73,503 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,543,000 after acquiring an additional 3,553 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of Guaranty Bancshares by 110.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 15,066 shares of the company's stock valued at $521,000 after purchasing an additional 7,905 shares during the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Guaranty Bancshares by 115.2% in the 4th quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 26,976 shares of the company's stock valued at $933,000 after buying an additional 14,442 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in shares of Guaranty Bancshares by 337.6% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 6,686 shares of the company's stock valued at $231,000 after buying an additional 5,158 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Guaranty Bancshares by 36.9% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 20,698 shares of the company's stock valued at $716,000 after buying an additional 5,580 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.39% of the company's stock.

About Guaranty Bancshares

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A. that provides a range of commercial and consumer banking products and services for small- and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals. The company offers checking and savings, money market, and business accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and commercial and industrial, construction and development, 1-4 family residential, commercial real estate, farmland, agricultural, multi-family residential, and consumer loans.