Willdan Group (NASDAQ:WLDN) Sees Strong Trading Volume - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Willdan Group saw a significant trading volume with approximately 149,416 shares exchanged, representing a 16% decline from the previous session.
• Analysts at Wedbush have maintained an "outperform" rating for the stock, indicating positive expectations for growth.
• Recent insider trading reports show that company executives sold 100,000 shares in total over the last 90 days, suggesting a 5.05% decrease in ownership by a director.

Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN - Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 149,416 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 16% from the previous session's volume of 178,346 shares.The stock last traded at $82.68 and had previously closed at $85.30.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Willdan Group in a research report on Thursday, July 10th.

Willdan Group Stock Down 0.8%

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.48 and a beta of 1.31. The business's 50-day moving average is $67.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Insider Activity at Willdan Group

In other news, CEO Michael A. Bieber sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.11, for a total value of $1,202,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 200,981 shares in the company, valued at $9,669,195.91. This trade represents a 11.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Micah Chen sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.20, for a total transaction of $482,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 38,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,855,796.40. The trade was a 20.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 100,000 shares of company stock worth $4,994,075. Corporate insiders own 8.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Willdan Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WLDN. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Willdan Group by 77.3% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 158,401 shares of the construction company's stock worth $6,468,000 after acquiring an additional 69,047 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its position in Willdan Group by 136.0% in the fourth quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 208,059 shares of the construction company's stock worth $7,925,000 after acquiring an additional 119,888 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Willdan Group by 193.1% in the first quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,627 shares of the construction company's stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 6,342 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in Willdan Group by 358.0% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 34,935 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,331,000 after acquiring an additional 27,308 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Willdan Group by 21.4% in the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 36,249 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,476,000 after acquiring an additional 6,399 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company's stock.

About Willdan Group

Willdan Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional, technical, and consulting services primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Energy, and Engineering and Consulting. The Energy segment offers comprehensive audit and surveys, program design and implementation, master planning, demand reduction, grid optimization, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, measurement and verification services, and software and data analytics, as well as energy consulting and engineering, turnkey facility and infrastructure projects, and customer support services.