Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS) Shares Purchased by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its stake in shares of Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS) by 35.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 36,655 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,625 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Webster Financial were worth $1,861,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WBS. Strs Ohio grew its position in Webster Financial by 43.2% during the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 625,400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,745,000 after purchasing an additional 188,800 shares during the last quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new position in Webster Financial during the 4th quarter worth $503,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System purchased a new position in Webster Financial during the 4th quarter worth $2,452,000. Aquila Investment Management LLC grew its position in Webster Financial by 27.3% during the 4th quarter. Aquila Investment Management LLC now owns 14,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $711,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ingalls & Snyder LLC purchased a new position in Webster Financial during the 4th quarter worth $231,000. 85.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Webster Financial Stock Performance

Shares of WBS opened at $45.54 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market cap of $7.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.33, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a 50-day moving average of $47.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.50. Webster Financial Co. has a 12-month low of $31.03 and a 12-month high of $53.39.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.35 earnings per share 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 analyst estimates of $680.72 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 21.09% and a return on equity of 12.55%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.49 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Webster Financial Co. will post 5.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WBS has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. They set a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Webster Financial in a report on Tuesday, March 26th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 8th. One research 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 MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $56.23.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Christopher J. Motl sold 10,475 shares of Webster Financial stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.40, for a total value of $548,890.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 63,306 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,317,234.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Webster Financial news, COO Luis Massiani sold 13,500 shares of Webster Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was 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 owns 89,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,627,132.23. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Christopher J. Motl sold 10,475 shares of Webster Financial stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now owns 63,306 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,317,234.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 25,975 shares of company stock valued at $1,341,095 in the last quarter. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Webster Financial Company Profile

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.