Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Makes New $1.07 Million Investment in WaFd, Inc (NASDAQ:WAFD)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System bought a new position in WaFd, Inc (NASDAQ:WAFD) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 32,400 shares of the bank’s stock, valued at approximately $1,068,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management purchased a new stake in WaFd in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $226,000. FMR LLC grew its stake in WaFd by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 120,314 shares of the bank’s stock worth $3,082,000 after acquiring an additional 2,304 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in WaFd in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,732,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in WaFd by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 25,099 shares of the bank’s stock worth $643,000 after acquiring an additional 5,580 shares during the period. Finally, Alps Advisors Inc. grew its stake in WaFd by 28.5% in the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 12,874 shares of the bank’s stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 2,853 shares during the period. 83.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

WaFd Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of WaFd stock opened at $28.59 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $27.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $28.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. WaFd, Inc has a twelve month low of $23.36 and a twelve month high of $34.07. The stock has a market cap of $1.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.38 and a beta of 0.85.

WaFd Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.64%. This is a boost from WaFd’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. WaFd’s dividend payout ratio is 30.50%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on WAFD shares. DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of WaFd in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $32.00 price objective on shares of WaFd in a research note on Tuesday. StockNews.com cut shares of WaFd from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 21st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on shares of WaFd from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 18th.

WaFd Profile

WaFd, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, and term certificates of deposit, as well as money market accounts and passbook savings accounts.