Short Interest in Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBF) Rises By 620.6%

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 recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 90,800 shares, anincreaseof620.6% from the June 30th total of 12,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 52,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.7 days. Approximately0.6% of the company's shares are sold short. Approximately0.6% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 52,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.7 days.

Insider Transactions at Waterstone Financial

In related news, Director Michael L. Hansen sold 36,465 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.83, for a total value of $504,310.95. Following the transaction, the director owned 150,076 shares in the company, valued at $2,075,551.08. The trade was a 19.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 7.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WSBF. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Waterstone Financial by 16,614.3% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,340 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 2,326 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Waterstone Financial by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 77,942 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $1,048,000 after acquiring an additional 1,195 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new position in Waterstone Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $143,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Waterstone Financial by 108.7% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 21,882 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 11,395 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Waterstone Financial by 64.9% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 85,628 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $1,151,000 after purchasing an additional 33,715 shares during the last quarter. 62.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Waterstone Financial Stock Performance

WSBF stock remained flat at $13.32 during midday trading on Tuesday. 12,854 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 50,584. The firm has a market cap of $257.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.68 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Waterstone Financial has a 1-year low of $11.61 and a 1-year high of $16.86. The company's fifty day moving average price is $13.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.31.

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

Waterstone Financial Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Waterstone Financial Company Profile

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.