Barclays PLC Acquires 315,269 Shares of Old Republic International Corporation $ORI

Barclays PLC lifted its stake in Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE:ORI) by 148.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 528,076 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 315,269 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 0.21% of Old Republic International worth $22,427,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Old Republic International by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,470,798 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,081,745,000 after purchasing an additional 123,954 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Old Republic International by 1.8% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,717,255 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $285,268,000 after buying an additional 116,549 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Old Republic International by 55.7% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,779,156 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $221,457,000 after buying an additional 2,066,965 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Old Republic International by 2,840.8% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 3,926,606 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $166,763,000 after buying an additional 3,793,085 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Old Republic International by 19.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,585,558 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $152,279,000 after buying an additional 575,778 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.92% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Old Republic International

In other news, Director John Eric Smith acquired 1,135 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $43.10 per share, for a total transaction of $48,918.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,276 shares in the company, valued at approximately $184,295.60. This trade represents a 36.13% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Carolyn Monroe sold 5,526 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.28, for a total value of $217,061.28. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 27,875 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,094,930. This represents a 16.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Old Republic International Stock Down 1.5%

NYSE:ORI opened at $40.03 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $41.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27. Old Republic International Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $34.43 and a fifty-two week high of $46.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.81 and a beta of 0.73.

Old Republic International (NYSE:ORI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The insurance provider reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by ($0.15). Old Republic International had a return on equity of 16.21% and a net margin of 10.24%.During the same period last year, the company earned $0.90 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Old Republic International Corporation will post 3.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Old Republic International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a $0.315 dividend. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. This is a boost from Old Republic International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. Old Republic International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on ORI shares. Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $38.00 target price (down from $51.00) on shares of Old Republic International in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Old Republic International from a “buy (a-)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Old Republic International from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $42.50.

About Old Republic International

Old Republic International Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance underwriting and related services business primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: General Insurance, Title Insurance, and Republic Financial Indemnity Group Run-off Business. The General Insurance segment offers aviation, commercial auto, commercial multi-peril, commercial property, general liability, home and auto warranty, inland marine, travel accident, and workers' compensation insurance products; and financial indemnity products for specialty coverages, including errors and omissions, fidelity, directors and officers, and surety.