Wingstop Inc. $WING Stock Holdings Lifted by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG grew its stake in shares of Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) by 74.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 18,990 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,103 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG owned about 0.07% of Wingstop worth $4,779,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Wingstop in the 2nd quarter worth about $118,211,000. Wasatch Advisors LP purchased a new stake in Wingstop during the second quarter valued at about $114,758,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 83.1% in the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 737,369 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $248,302,000 after buying an additional 334,583 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in shares of Wingstop by 50.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 949,033 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $238,853,000 after acquiring an additional 316,328 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in shares of Wingstop by 23.3% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,557,383 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $524,433,000 after acquiring an additional 294,786 shares in the last quarter.

Wingstop Stock Down 3.0%

Shares of NASDAQ:WING opened at $229.17 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $259.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $260.37. Wingstop Inc. has a 12-month low of $204.00 and a 12-month high of $388.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.82.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The restaurant operator reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.16. Wingstop had a net margin of 25.01% and a negative return on equity of 16.12%. The business had revenue of $175.69 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $177.74 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.92 earnings per share. Wingstop’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Wingstop Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wingstop Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Wingstop’s payout ratio is currently 19.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WING shares. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating and issued a $285.00 price target on shares of Wingstop in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $400.00 price objective on shares of Wingstop in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Loop Capital initiated coverage on shares of Wingstop in a research note on Friday, January 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $317.00 target price on the stock. Melius Research set a $350.00 target price on Wingstop in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $375.00 target price on shares of Wingstop in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $335.86.

Insider Activity at Wingstop

In related news, Director Kilandigalu Madati sold 2,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.73, for a total value of $703,971.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,583 shares in the company, valued at approximately $673,465.59. This represents a 51.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Wesley S. Mcdonald sold 566 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $141,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,375 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,093,750. This represents a 11.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.72% of the company’s stock.

Wingstop Profile

Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ: WING) is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings and related menu items. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, the company has built its brand around bold, chef-inspired wing flavors and a streamlined service model that caters to dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering orders.

The company’s core offerings include both bone-in and boneless chicken wings tossed in a variety of proprietary rubs and sauces, such as Original Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Mango Habanero.