Willdan Group (NASDAQ:WLDN) Sees Large Volume Increase - Time to 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 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.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Willdan Group Stock Down 1.1%

The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm has a market cap of $1.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.04 and a beta of 1.25. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $66.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.19.

Insider Activity at Willdan Group

In related news, Director Thomas Donald Brisbin sold 22,459 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.34, for a total value of $1,175,504.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 422,454 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $22,111,242.36. This trade represents a 5.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Creighton K. Early sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.28, for a total value of $266,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 72,071 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,839,942.88. This represents a 6.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 100,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,994,075. Corporate insiders own 8.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Willdan Group

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Willdan Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $713,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Willdan Group by 18.4% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,419 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,776,000 after acquiring an additional 4,417 shares during the period. Welch Group LLC acquired a new stake in Willdan Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $250,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Willdan Group by 33.2% in the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 211,053 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $14,055,000 after purchasing an additional 52,652 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in Willdan Group by 82.6% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,042 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 924 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.29% of the company's stock.

Willdan Group Company Profile

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.

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