Enterprise Financial Services Corp (NASDAQ:EFSC) Shares Sold by Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Enterprise Financial Services Corp (NASDAQ:EFSC) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 76,735 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 3,505 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned 0.21% of Enterprise Financial Services worth $4,328,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. PL Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Enterprise Financial Services by 5,540.0% in the fourth quarter. PL Capital Advisors LLC now owns 39,695,956 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $2,238,852,000 after buying an additional 38,992,127 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,545,092 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $181,721,000 after acquiring an additional 505,552 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Enterprise Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth $7,556,000. Jennison Associates LLC raised its holdings in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 28.3% during the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 566,780 shares of the bank’s stock worth $31,966,000 after purchasing an additional 125,150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Enterprise Financial Services by 12.9% during the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 847,939 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $47,824,000 after purchasing an additional 96,822 shares during the period. 72.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director James M. Havel sold 5,525 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.47, for a total transaction of $323,046.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 15,447 shares in the company, valued at $903,186.09. This represents a 26.34 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Enterprise Financial Services Stock Down 0.4 %

EFSC opened at $53.52 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $57.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.06 and a beta of 0.97. Enterprise Financial Services Corp has a fifty-two week low of $37.28 and a fifty-two week high of $63.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91.

Enterprise Financial Services (NASDAQ:EFSC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The bank reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.14. Enterprise Financial Services had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 20.12%. On average, research analysts expect that Enterprise Financial Services Corp will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Enterprise Financial Services Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Enterprise Financial Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Enterprise Financial Services’s payout ratio is presently 23.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $70.00 price objective (up previously from $68.00) on shares of Enterprise Financial Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. DA Davidson lifted their price target on Enterprise Financial Services from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th.

Enterprise Financial Services Company Profile

Enterprise Financial Services Corp operates as the holding company for Enterprise Bank & Trust that offers banking and wealth management services to individuals and corporate customers primarily in Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico. It provides checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit.