Signaturefd LLC Trims Stock Holdings in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD)

Signaturefd LLC trimmed its stake in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) by 14.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,259 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 215 shares during the quarter. Signaturefd LLC’s holdings in Walker & Dunlop were worth $140,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in WD. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 4,480.2% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 397,149 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,484,000 after purchasing an additional 388,478 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 960.7% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 201,387 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $14,951,000 after buying an additional 182,401 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 7,867.6% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 73,461 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $8,155,000 after acquiring an additional 72,539 shares in the last quarter. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Walker & Dunlop in the 3rd quarter worth $3,644,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Walker & Dunlop by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 296,015 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $21,976,000 after acquiring an additional 42,160 shares in the last quarter. 80.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Walker & Dunlop

In related news, Director Howard W. Smith III sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.81, for a total value of $1,876,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 191,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,965,365.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Paula A. Pryor sold 1,908 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.09, for a total value of $179,523.72. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,707 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $348,791.63. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Howard W. Smith III sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.81, for a total value of $1,876,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 191,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,965,365.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 46,074 shares of company stock worth $4,328,255 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 5.26% of the company’s stock.

Walker & Dunlop Trading Up 1.2 %

NYSE:WD opened at $93.21 on Monday. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a 12-month low of $61.06 and a 12-month high of $113.67. The firm has a market cap of $3.13 billion, a PE ratio of 29.31 and a beta of 1.53. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $94.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $91.05.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.42 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.38. Walker & Dunlop had a return on equity of 9.15% and a net margin of 10.18%. The business had revenue of $274.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $276.76 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.41 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Walker & Dunlop, Inc. will post 4.2 EPS for the current year.

Walker & Dunlop Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This is a boost from Walker & Dunlop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. Walker & Dunlop’s payout ratio is 81.76%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Walker & Dunlop from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Wedbush downgraded Walker & Dunlop from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $130.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $105.00 target price on shares of Walker & Dunlop in a report on Tuesday, March 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walker & Dunlop has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $100.00.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop, Inc, through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. It operates through three segments: Capital Markets, Servicing & Asset Management, and Corporate.