Fox Run Management L.L.C. Takes $1.42 Million Position in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK)

Fox Run Management L.L.C. has acquired a new position in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) during the 4th quarter, as per the latest disclosure submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 5,164 shares of the business services provider's stock, amounting to approximately $1,422,000.

Additionally, other institutional investors have also engaged in buying and selling shares of Verisk Analytics. Notably, Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its stake by an impressive 468.8% in the same quarter, now owning 91 shares valued at about $25,000 after adding 75 shares. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC has acquired a new stake worth $28,000 in Verisk Analytics. Similarly, Roxbury Financial LLC and Centricity Wealth Management LLC each purchased new positions valued at approximately $29,000 and $28,000, respectively. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. also joined in by acquiring a new stake worth roughly $30,000. Currently, around 90.00% of the stock is held by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Verisk Analytics Stock Overview

As of today, VRSK opened at $285.16. Verisk Analytics, Inc. has seen a twelve-month low of $217.34 and a high of $306.10. The company's market capitalization stands at $40.00 billion with a PE ratio of 44.49 and a PEG ratio of 3.37. The stock has a beta of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.82, and a quick ratio of 0.82. Moreover, the debt-to-equity ratio is 8.36. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $289.28 while the 200-day moving average price is $280.71.

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK) recently announced its quarterly earnings results. For the quarter ending February 26th, the company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.61, exceeding analysts' projections of $1.60 by $0.01. Verisk’s return on equity reached an extraordinary 274.13%, and it also recorded a net margin of 32.65%. Reported revenue is $735.60 million, slightly above analyst expectations of $733.55 million. Analysts collectively anticipate that Verisk Analytics, Inc. will deliver an EPS of 6.63 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend and Stock Repurchase Announcement

Recently, the company also announced a quarterly dividend set to be paid out on March 31st. Shareholders on record by March 14th will receive a dividend of $0.45 per share, with the ex-dividend date also falling on March 14th. This translates to an annualized dividend of $1.80, creating a dividend yield of 0.63%. This marks an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.39 and indicates a dividend payout ratio of 26.87%.

Additionally, on February 26th, Verisk Analytics’ Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program that authorizes the company to repurchase up to $1.00 billion in shares, amounting to about 2.5% of its outstanding stock. This program is often seen as a sign that the board believes the stock to be undervalued.

Analyst Predictions

Several analysts have recently provided their insights on Verisk Analytics. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target from $280.00 to $297.00 while maintaining a "market perform" rating in a research note dated February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company also adjusted its target price, decreasing it from $325.00 to $321.00, setting an "overweight" rating. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley raised its target price from $283.00 to $300.00, assigning an “equal weight” rating in a report dated December 12th. Also, Royal Bank of Canada and Robert W. Baird maintained positive ratings, setting targets of $300.00 and raising theirs from $298.00 to $320.00 respectively on February 27th. Overall, six analysts have given the stock a hold rating, while three have issued a buy rating, leading to a consensus rating of "Hold" on MarketBeat.com, with an average price target of $299.33.

Insider Trading Activity

In recent news regarding insider trading, Kathy Card Beckles sold 2,111 shares of company stock on January 17th at an average price of $282.06, totaling approximately $595,428.66. After this sale, she retains ownership of 9,066 shares, valued at around $2,557,155.96, marking an 18.89% decrease in her stake. This transaction was made public through a legal filing with the SEC. Additionally, Director Bruce Edward Hansen sold 1,179 shares on January 7th at an average price of $272.81, resulting in a transaction value of roughly $321,642.99. Following this sale, he maintains a holding of 13,786 shares worth approximately $3,760,958.66. Over the past three months, insiders have sold 5,648 shares valued at approximately $1,613,047, while insiders hold about 0.40% of the company's total stock.

About Verisk Analytics

Verisk Analytics, Inc. specializes in providing data analytics and technological solutions to the insurance sector both in the United States and internationally. The company offers a variety of services including risk assessments, underwriting solutions, catastrophe modeling, and more, assisting clients in effectively underwriting and managing losses.

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