Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBF) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Waterstone Financial experienced a significant increase in short interest of 620.6% in July, with a total of 90,800 shares shorted as of July 15th.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, reflecting a yield of 4.5% and a payout ratio of 52.63%.
• Waterstone Financial's recent quarterly earnings report revealed an EPS of $0.43 and revenue of $38.04 million, with a net margin of 10.47%.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBF - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 90,800 shares, agrowthof620.6% from the June 30th total of 12,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 52,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Approximately0.6% of the company's stock are short sold. Approximately0.6% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 52,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days.

Waterstone Financial Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of NASDAQ WSBF opened at $13.21 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $254.95 million, a P/E ratio of 11.59 and a beta of 0.73. Waterstone Financial has a 1-year low of $11.61 and a 1-year high of $16.86. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $13.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.31.

Waterstone Financial (NASDAQ:WSBF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The savings and loans company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $38.04 million during the quarter. Waterstone Financial had a net margin of 10.47% and a return on equity of 6.07%.

Waterstone Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 8th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 8th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. Waterstone Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 52.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen lowered Waterstone Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waterstone Financial

In other Waterstone Financial news, Director Michael L. Hansen sold 36,465 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.83, for a total value of $504,310.95. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 150,076 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,075,551.08. This represents a 19.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 7.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waterstone Financial

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WSBF. Ritholtz Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Waterstone Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $149,000. Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in shares of Waterstone Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $476,000. Jane Street Group LLC raised its stake in Waterstone Financial by 29.8% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 25,843 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $348,000 after buying an additional 5,928 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in Waterstone Financial by 7.5% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 83,591 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $1,124,000 after buying an additional 5,818 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Waterstone Financial by 16.7% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 45,595 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $613,000 after buying an additional 6,512 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.71% of the company's stock.

About Waterstone Financial

Waterstone Financial, Inc operates as a bank holding company for WaterStone Bank SSB that provides various financial services to customers in southeastern Wisconsin, the United States. It operates in two segments, Community Banking and Mortgage Banking. The Community Banking segment offers consumer and business banking products and services, such as deposit and transactional solutions, including checking accounts, online banking and bill pay services, money transfer services, as well as credit, debit, and pre-paid cards; investable funds solutions comprising savings, money market deposits, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, personal and installment loans, real estate financing, business loans, and business lines of credit; and fixed and variable annuities, insurance products, and trust and investment management accounts.

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