Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS) is Sapience Investments LLC's Largest Position

Sapience Investments LLC decreased its stake in Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS - Free Report) by 22.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 86,175 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 24,381 shares during the quarter. Webster Financial accounts for about 2.8% of Sapience Investments LLC's portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Sapience Investments LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Webster Financial worth $4,759,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WBS. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Webster Financial in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $120,497,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Webster Financial by 1,253.3% in the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,120,914 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $61,897,000 after purchasing an additional 1,038,085 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in Webster Financial by 43.0% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,547,225 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $140,658,000 after purchasing an additional 766,019 shares during the last quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC grew its position in Webster Financial by 759.8% in the fourth quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 823,280 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $45,462,000 after purchasing an additional 727,530 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FJ Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Webster Financial in the fourth quarter valued at $29,177,000. Institutional investors own 85.58% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Daniel Bley sold 1,800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.84, for a total transaction of $86,112.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 21,517 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,029,373.28. This represents a 7.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.54% of the company's stock.

Webster Financial Price Performance

WBS stock traded up $0.51 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $51.30. The stock had a trading volume of 579,243 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,262,307. Webster Financial Co. has a 52 week low of $39.34 and a 52 week high of $63.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.32.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $704.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $708.46 million. Webster Financial had a return on equity of 10.82% and a net margin of 18.39%. The company's revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.35 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Webster Financial Co. will post 5.88 EPS for the current year.

Webster Financial announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, May 1st that authorizes the company to repurchase $700.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 8.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Webster Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 12th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.12%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 12th. Webster Financial's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.04%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on WBS shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Webster Financial from $75.00 to $66.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 13th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $75.00 to $60.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Barclays reduced their price target on Webster Financial from $80.00 to $72.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $60.00 price objective on Webster Financial and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Webster Financial currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $63.75.

Webster Financial Profile

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking.