Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) Stock Rated “Moderate Buy” by Wall Street Analysts

Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) has earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $224.79.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on VRSK shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Verisk Analytics from $235.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays dropped their price target on Verisk Analytics from $275.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Robert W. Baird set a $247.00 price target on Verisk Analytics in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. UBS Group upped their price target on Verisk Analytics from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Verisk Analytics from $240.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th.

Verisk Analytics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ VRSK opened at $180.58 on Friday. Verisk Analytics has a 1 year low of $155.94 and a 1 year high of $244.41. The company’s 50-day moving average is $179.47 and its 200 day moving average is $180.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.69.

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The business services provider reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.93 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $806.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $804.02 million. Verisk Analytics had a net margin of 28.24% and a negative return on equity of 239.55%. Verisk Analytics’s revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.88 earnings per share. Verisk Analytics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.450-7.750 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Verisk Analytics will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Verisk Analytics Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. Verisk Analytics’s payout ratio is 30.72%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Lee Shavel sold 3,535 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.70, for a total value of $603,424.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 98,490 shares in the company, valued at $16,812,243. This trade represents a 3.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Elizabeth Mann sold 400 shares of Verisk Analytics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.91, for a total transaction of $73,964.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 17,984 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,325,421.44. This trade represents a 2.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 15,925 shares of company stock worth $3,074,216. Corporate insiders own 0.52% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verisk Analytics

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CX Institutional raised its position in shares of Verisk Analytics by 1,895.0% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 40,019 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,717,000 after purchasing an additional 38,013 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Verisk Analytics by 47.8% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 204 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Verisk Analytics in the 3rd quarter worth about $16,857,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Verisk Analytics by 297.6% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 65,071 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $11,682,000 after purchasing an additional 48,707 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its position in Verisk Analytics by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 53,997 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,694,000 after purchasing an additional 2,319 shares during the last quarter. 90.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Verisk Analytics Company Profile

Verisk Analytics, Inc is a data analytics and technology company that provides information, software and predictive insights primarily to the insurance industry. Its solutions help insurers assess risk, support underwriting, manage claims, detect fraud and improve pricing and operational decision-making across property and casualty, life and specialty insurance markets.

The company’s offerings include industry data and standardized insurance information through its ISO business, catastrophe modeling and risk analytics through Extreme Event Solutions and AIR Worldwide, and property estimating and claims-management tools through Xactware.