Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK) Sets New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Key Points

• Verisk's stock hit a new 52-week low of $164.13 (last $164.0150) on Friday, off about 4.4% with roughly 494,049 shares traded.
• The company posted an earnings beat (Q EPS $1.82 vs. $1.60 expected), set FY2026 guidance of 7.45–7.75 EPS, raised its quarterly dividend to $0.50, and unveiled a $2.5 billion share repurchase plan (~10.1% of outstanding shares).
• Analysts hold a "Moderate Buy" consensus with an average price target of $237.20, though individual targets and ratings range from Strong Buy to Sell.

Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $164.13 and last traded at $164.0150, with a volume of 494049 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $169.41.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on VRSK shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $230.00 price target on shares of Verisk Analytics in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $230.00 price target on shares of Verisk Analytics in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Verisk Analytics from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $215.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Verisk Analytics from $260.00 to $220.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, UBS Group set a $224.00 price objective on shares of Verisk Analytics in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Verisk Analytics currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $237.20.

Verisk Analytics Stock Down 4.4%

The business's 50 day moving average is $192.78 and its 200-day moving average is $214.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.42, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $21.22 billion, a PE ratio of 24.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.82.

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The business services provider reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $778.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $773.74 million. Verisk Analytics had a net margin of 29.56% and a return on equity of 357.00%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.61 earnings per share. Verisk Analytics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.450-7.75 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Verisk Analytics, Inc. will post 6.63 EPS for the current year.

Verisk Analytics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th were issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from Verisk Analytics's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Verisk Analytics's dividend payout ratio is presently 30.82%.

Verisk Analytics declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 18th that allows the company to repurchase $2.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the business services provider to purchase up to 10.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Verisk Analytics

In related news, Director Christopher John Perry bought 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $180.00 per share, for a total transaction of $180,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,994 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $538,920. This trade represents a 50.15% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Elizabeth Mann sold 400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.71, for a total transaction of $81,884.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 20,384 shares in the company, valued at $4,172,808.64. The trade was a 1.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Verisk Analytics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Aquatic Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics by 295.8% during the 3rd quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 20,148 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $5,067,000 after acquiring an additional 15,058 shares during the last quarter. Jensen Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics by 50.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jensen Investment Management Inc. now owns 424,645 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $106,802,000 after acquiring an additional 142,911 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics by 6.5% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,196,460 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $300,931,000 after acquiring an additional 73,026 shares during the last quarter. Allstate Corp acquired a new position in shares of Verisk Analytics during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,256,000. Finally, NEOS Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Verisk Analytics by 77.0% during the 3rd quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 59,083 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $14,860,000 after acquiring an additional 25,712 shares during the last quarter. 90.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Verisk Analytics

Verisk Analytics, Inc NASDAQ: VRSK is a data analytics and decision‑support provider that helps organizations assess and manage risk. The company supplies data, predictive models and software to customers in insurance, reinsurance, financial services, government, energy and other commercial markets. Its offerings are designed to support underwriting, pricing, claims management, catastrophe modeling, fraud detection and regulatory compliance, enabling clients to make more informed operational and strategic decisions.

Verisk's product portfolio combines large proprietary datasets with analytics platforms and industry‑specific applications.

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