Analysts Set Expectations for Webster Financial Co.’s Q4 2024 Earnings (NYSE:WBS)

Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS) – Seaport Res Ptn reduced their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Webster Financial in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, April 24th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst L. Hunsicker now expects that the financial services provider will post earnings of $1.47 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.60. The consensus estimate for Webster Financial’s current full-year earnings is $5.76 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Webster Financial’s Q1 2025 earnings at $1.51 EPS and Q2 2025 earnings at $1.54 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Webster Financial from $51.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Webster Financial in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Webster Financial from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 8th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Webster Financial from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $56.23.

Webster Financial Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE WBS opened at $45.54 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $7.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.31, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Webster Financial has a 52-week low of $31.03 and a 52-week high of $53.39. The business’s 50 day moving average is $47.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.50.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $667.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $680.72 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 21.09% and a return on equity of 12.55%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.49 EPS.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Webster Financial

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 22.6% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,258,411 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $292,587,000 after buying an additional 1,339,862 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 12.3% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,916,013 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $198,785,000 after buying an additional 430,331 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Webster Financial by 1.8% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,732,942 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $110,165,000 after purchasing an additional 48,445 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC raised its holdings in Webster Financial by 8.4% during the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,394,951 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $96,540,000 after purchasing an additional 184,905 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Davis Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Webster Financial by 14.3% during the fourth quarter. Davis Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,000,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $101,520,000 after purchasing an additional 250,000 shares in the last quarter. 85.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Webster Financial

In other Webster Financial news, insider Christopher J. Motl sold 10,475 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.40, for a total value of $548,890.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 63,306 shares in the company, valued at $3,317,234.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, COO Luis Massiani sold 13,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total value of $697,005.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 89,621 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,627,132.23. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Christopher J. Motl sold 10,475 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.40, for a total transaction of $548,890.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 63,306 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,317,234.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 25,975 shares of company stock worth $1,341,095 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the company’s stock.

About Webster Financial

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.