Lazard Asset Management LLC Grows Stock Holdings in AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS)

Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) by 49.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 283,186 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 93,426 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned 0.34% of AXIS Capital worth $25,095,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in AXS. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of AXIS Capital during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 73.8% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 671 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of AXIS Capital during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Assetmark Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AXIS Capital during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $70,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of AXIS Capital by 28.5% during the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 833 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.44% of the company's stock.

AXIS Capital Stock Performance

Shares of AXIS Capital stock traded up $1.40 on Friday, hitting $102.48. 517,235 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 595,449. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $91.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.06 billion, a PE ratio of 8.30, a PEG ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.82. AXIS Capital Holdings Limited has a 1 year low of $68.02 and a 1 year high of $102.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60.

AXIS Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $3.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.64 by $0.53. The business had revenue of $1.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.83 billion. AXIS Capital had a net margin of 18.16% and a return on equity of 18.89%. The company's revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.07 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AXIS Capital Holdings Limited will post 11.19 EPS for the current year.

AXIS Capital Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. AXIS Capital's dividend payout ratio is presently 17.46%.

Insider Transactions at AXIS Capital

In related news, Director Charles A. Davis sold 2,139,037 shares of AXIS Capital stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.50, for a total transaction of $199,999,959.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,404,133 shares in the company, valued at approximately $224,786,435.50. The trade was a 47.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AXS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AXIS Capital in a research report on Wednesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $114.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of AXIS Capital in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $116.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of AXIS Capital from $100.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $107.75.

AXIS Capital Company Profile

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.