Guardian Partners Inc. Invests $1.68 Million in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK)

Guardian Partners Inc. has recently acquired a new position in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, according to their latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This investment consisted of 5,977 shares of Verisk Analytics, valued at approximately $1.68 million.

Additionally, other institutional investors have also made changes to their holdings in Verisk Analytics. For instance, Sanctuary Advisors LLC boosted its stake in the company by 188.2% in the third quarter, now owning 25,637 shares worth about $7.45 million after purchasing an additional 16,742 shares in that period. Another investment group, Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC, acquired a new stake valued at $212,000 during the fourth quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its holdings by an impressive 479.1% in the third quarter, bringing its total to 16,853 shares valued at approximately $4.52 million after adding 13,943 shares. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank enhanced its position by 14.4% in the third quarter, now owning 70,667 shares worth around $18.94 million after acquiring an extra 8,884 shares. Lastly, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. also grew its shares by 16.9%, now holding 63,217 shares valued at $16.94 million after buying an additional 9,145 shares. Notably, institutional investors and hedge funds combined own approximately 90.00% of Verisk Analytics' stock.

Insider Activity at Verisk Analytics

In other developments regarding Verisk Analytics, Director Bruce Edward Hansen sold 1,179 shares on March 7th at an average price of $295.36, resulting in a transaction worth $348,229.44. Post-sale, he retains ownership of 13,786 shares, valued at about $4.07 million. This sale reflects a 7.88% decrease in his stake in the company. Kathy Card Beckles, another insider, sold 2,111 shares on January 17th, fetching an average price of $282.06, totaling approximately $595,429. After this transaction, she directly holds 9,066 shares worth around $2.56 million, indicating an 18.89% decrease in her ownership. Over the past three months, a total of 5,648 company shares have been sold by insiders, amounting to $1.61 million, with corporate insiders owning just 0.40% of the company's shares.

Analyst Ratings and Perspectives

Several research firms have provided their insights on Verisk Analytics. Barclays downgraded the stock from an "overweight" rating to "equal weight" and set a price target of $310.00. Conversely, Robert W. Baird raised their price target from $298.00 to $320.00, maintaining an "outperform" rating. Morgan Stanley also updated its price target from $283.00 to $300.00, continuing to rate the company as "equal weight." Wells Fargo reduced its target from $325.00 to $321.00, retaining an "overweight" status. Lastly, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating with a target of $300.00. Currently, six research analysts rate the stock as a hold and three as a buy, leading to an average rating of "Hold" with a consensus target price of $299.33.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on VRSK

Performance of Verisk Analytics' Stock

As of the latest reports, Verisk Analytics stock (NASDAQ:VRSK) opened at $285.16. Its 50-day moving average is $289.28, while the 200-day moving average stands at $280.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82, with a concerning debt-to-equity ratio of 8.36. Verisk Analytics has a market capitalization of $40 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.49, a P/E/G ratio of 3.37, and a beta of 0.89. The stock has fluctuated within a twelve-month low of $217.34 and a high of $306.10.

On February 26th, Verisk Analytics released its quarterly earnings report, revealing earnings of $1.61 per share, surpassing the expected $1.60. The quarter generated a revenue of $735.6 million, slightly exceeding the consensus of $733.55 million. The company reported a net margin of 32.65% and an impressive return on equity of 274.13%. Analysts predict that Verisk Analytics will show earnings of $6.63 per share for the current fiscal year.

Moreover, the Board of Directors recently approved a share repurchase program, empowering the company to repurchase up to $1 billion worth of shares, equivalent to about 2.5% of its outstanding shares. This move typically signals that the Board believes the company's shares may be undervalued.

Dividend Increase Announcements

Verisk Analytics has also announced a quarterly dividend, scheduled for payment on March 31st. Shareholders on record as of March 14th will receive a dividend of $0.45. This marks an increase from the previous dividend of $0.39, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.80 and a dividend yield of 0.63%. The ex-dividend date is set for March 14th, with a current dividend payout ratio of 26.87%.

Company Overview of Verisk Analytics

Verisk Analytics, Inc. specializes in providing data analytics and technology solutions targeting the insurance sector both domestically and internationally. Its services include policy language, prospective loss costs, and various underwriting solutions that help clients in risk selection, pricing, and workflow efficiency.

Additional Reading Suggestions

• Five stocks we like better than Verisk Analytics
• Understanding Call Option Volume for Successful Trading
• Why Williams-Sonoma is Poised for Growth in 2025
• MarketRank™ Explained and Its Application
• Alphabet Stock: A Low-Risk, High-Reward Opportunity
• Top 3 Healthcare Dividend Stocks to Hold
• Affirm Stock: Is It Worth Buying After Walmart's Setback?

This summary is generated through narrative science technology and financial data to provide readers with swift and accurate information.

Investing in Verisk Analytics: A Cautionary Note

Before making any investment in Verisk Analytics, it is important to gather all necessary information.

MarketBeat tracks top analysts' recommendations daily. Five stocks have been identified as preferable investments over Verisk Analytics right now.

Discover More Top 7 AI Stocks to Invest In Today, featuring companies leading the way in AI technology.

investment, stocks, analytics