ServisFirst Bancshares (NYSE:SFBS) Share Price Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average - Here's Why

Key Points

• SFBS shares moved above their 200-day moving average, reaching $43.38 and closing around $43.18, compared with a 200-day average of $40.76.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive: the stock has an average “Buy” rating and a consensus price target of $47.67, although one analyst recently downgraded it to “Hold.”
• ServisFirst reported quarterly EPS of $0.78, matching estimates, while revenue of $168.53 million exceeded expectations. The company pays a $0.19 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 1.8% yield.

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:SFBS - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $40.76 and traded as high as $43.38. ServisFirst Bancshares shares last traded at $43.18, with a volume of 380,517 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on SFBS shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of ServisFirst Bancshares in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of ServisFirst Bancshares from $45.50 to $47.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of ServisFirst Bancshares from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $47.67.

ServisFirst Bancshares Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $43.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of $40.76. The firm has a market cap of $4.72 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71 and a beta of 0.85.

ServisFirst Bancshares (NYSE:SFBS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.78. ServisFirst Bancshares had a net margin of 30.95% and a return on equity of 17.42%. The firm had revenue of $168.53 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $167.85 million. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. will post 3.23 EPS for the current year.

ServisFirst Bancshares Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 1st were given a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 1st. ServisFirst Bancshares's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.94%.

Institutional Trading of ServisFirst Bancshares

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in shares of ServisFirst Bancshares in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in ServisFirst Bancshares during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in ServisFirst Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Danske Bank A S bought a new position in ServisFirst Bancshares during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in ServisFirst Bancshares in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. 67.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About ServisFirst Bancshares

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and the parent of ServisFirst Bank. The company specializes in commercial banking services, catering primarily to small and mid-sized businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs. Its product portfolio encompasses commercial real estate lending, commercial and industrial loans, deposit accounts, treasury management and other ancillary banking products designed to meet the financial needs of its clients.

ServisFirst Bank offers a full suite of deposit products, including interest-bearing checking, money market accounts and certificates of deposit, as well as a variety of loan products.

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