Peoples Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:PFIS) Shares Sold by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:PFIS - Free Report) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 488,066 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 7,531 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 4.89% of Peoples Financial Services worth $24,979,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of PFIS. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Peoples Financial Services by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 51,084 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,614,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 38,857 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,989,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 13,182 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $675,000 after buying an additional 518 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,873 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $198,000 after buying an additional 688 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 26,345 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,348,000 after buying an additional 704 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.67% of the company's stock.

Peoples Financial Services Stock Performance

NASDAQ PFIS traded up $0.45 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $42.59. The company's stock had a trading volume of 33,715 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,233. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.20. Peoples Financial Services Corp. has a 52 week low of $37.07 and a 52 week high of $59.70. The stock has a market cap of $425.77 million, a PE ratio of 37.69 and a beta of 0.57.

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.17). Peoples Financial Services had a return on equity of 8.97% and a net margin of 3.70%. Equities research analysts predict that Peoples Financial Services Corp. will post 5.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Peoples Financial Services Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.6175 per share. This represents a $2.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Peoples Financial Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 218.58%.

Insider Activity

In other Peoples Financial Services news, Director Richard S. Lochen, Jr. acquired 1,000 shares of Peoples Financial Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $47.12 per share, for a total transaction of $47,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $807,118.48. This represents a 6.20 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 4.10% of the company's stock.

Peoples Financial Services Profile

Peoples Financial Services Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company that provides various commercial and retail banking services. The company accepts money market, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, individual retirement, demand deposit, and certificates of deposit accounts.