Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.47 EPS

Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The bank reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.47, Briefing.com reports. Wintrust Financial had a net margin of 17.86% and a return on equity of 13.29%. The business had revenue of $604.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $577.80 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.80 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year.

Wintrust Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WTFC traded up $1.37 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $96.67. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 70,074 shares, compared to its average volume of 413,319. Wintrust Financial has a 1-year low of $58.12 and a 1-year high of $105.29. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $98.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $90.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $5.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.99 and a beta of 1.21.

Wintrust Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 8th were issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Wintrust Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.86%. Wintrust Financial’s payout ratio is 18.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WTFC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Wintrust Financial from $114.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 18th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Wintrust Financial from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Wintrust Financial from $95.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Wintrust Financial from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Wintrust Financial from $105.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $112.92.

Insider Buying and Selling at Wintrust Financial

In other Wintrust Financial news, insider Edward J. Wehmer sold 9,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.36, for a total transaction of $943,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 177,124 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,599,040.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Wintrust Financial news, insider Edward J. Wehmer sold 9,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.36, for a total transaction of $943,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 177,124 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,599,040.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey D. Hahnfeld sold 588 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.88, for a total transaction of $57,553.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,410 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $333,770.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.47% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Wintrust Financial

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Point72 Middle East FZE acquired a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $227,000. Maverick Capital Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $225,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $221,000. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $204,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Wintrust Financial by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,048 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $172,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the period. 93.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Wintrust Financial

Wintrust Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company. It operates in three segments: Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management. The Community Banking segment offers non-interest bearing deposits, non-brokered interest-bearing transaction accounts, and savings and domestic time deposits; home equity, consumer, and real estate loans; safe deposit facilities; and automatic teller machine (ATM), online and mobile banking, and other services.