Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:PEBO) Stock Breaks Above Fifty Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Peoples Bancorp shares rose above their 50-day moving average, trading near $38.81 versus the $38.44 average. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $42.00.
• The bank reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with earnings of $1.04 per share versus the $0.93 consensus estimate and revenue of $124.52 million. Analysts expect full-year earnings of approximately $3.74 per share.
• Peoples Bancorp declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42, equivalent to a 4.3% annualized yield. However, company insiders sold a combined 7,650 shares worth about $300,588 over the past three months.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:PEBO - Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $38.44 and traded as high as $39.07. Peoples Bancorp shares last traded at $38.81, with a volume of 404,632 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Peoples Bancorp in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Zacks Research raised shares of Peoples Bancorp from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 1st. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Peoples Bancorp from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Peoples Bancorp in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Finally, DA Davidson cut their target price on shares of Peoples Bancorp from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $42.00.

Peoples Bancorp Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.39 billion, a PE ratio of 11.45 and a beta of 0.62. The business's 50 day moving average is $38.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.01.

Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:PEBO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 20th. The bank reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $124.52 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $123.40 million. Peoples Bancorp had a return on equity of 11.10% and a net margin of 19.76%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Peoples Bancorp Inc. will post 3.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Peoples Bancorp Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 2nd will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 2nd. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Peoples Bancorp's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Peoples Bancorp

In related news, EVP Hugh J. Donlon sold 2,650 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.12, for a total transaction of $101,018.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 18,365 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $700,073.80. This trade represents a 12.61% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Mark Augenstein sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, October 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.88, for a total transaction of $75,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 24,885 shares of the company's stock, valued at $942,643.80. This trade represents a 7.44% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 7,650 shares of company stock worth $300,588 over the last three months. 3.31% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Peoples Bancorp

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PEBO. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its holdings in Peoples Bancorp by 103.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 12,069 shares of the bank's stock valued at $442,000 after purchasing an additional 6,145 shares during the period. Engineers Gate Manager LP increased its stake in shares of Peoples Bancorp by 13.7% during the second quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 8,504 shares of the bank's stock valued at $327,000 after purchasing an additional 1,023 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Peoples Bancorp in the second quarter worth $207,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in Peoples Bancorp by 87.0% during the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,307 shares of the bank's stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 608 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Peoples Bancorp by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 14,754 shares of the bank's stock worth $567,000 after purchasing an additional 505 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 60.68% of the company's stock.

Peoples Bancorp Company Profile

Peoples Bancorp Inc is a financial holding company headquartered in Marietta, Ohio. Through its principal subsidiary, Peoples Bank, the company provides banking and financial services to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and public-sector customers.

Peoples Bank offers deposit accounts, residential and commercial lending, consumer loans, credit cards, treasury management and other financial services. The company also provides wealth management, trust and investment services, as well as insurance products through affiliated operations.

Founded in 1902, Peoples Bancorp serves communities primarily in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia through a network of banking offices and digital banking channels.

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