Principal Financial Group Inc. Invests $26.33 Million in Versant Corporation $VSNT

Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Versant Corporation (NASDAQ:VSNT) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 711,273 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,331,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA acquired a new position in shares of Versant in the 4th quarter valued at $24,134,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new stake in Versant during the fourth quarter valued at $795,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Versant during the first quarter valued at $1,043,000. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in Versant during the first quarter valued at $1,230,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. purchased a new position in Versant in the first quarter valued at $1,127,000.

Versant Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of Versant stock opened at $35.96 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $5.07 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.07. Versant Corporation has a twelve month low of $27.17 and a twelve month high of $59.00. The company has a 50-day moving average of $39.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.32 and a quick ratio of 2.32.

Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 14th. The company reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Versant Corporation will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Versant Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 1st will be paid a $0.375 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 1st. Versant’s payout ratio is currently 75.38%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Versant from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Versant in a research note on Tuesday, May 12th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Versant from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Weiss Ratings raised Versant from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Seaport Research Partners reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $46.00 price target on shares of Versant in a research report on Monday, May 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $41.80.

Versant Company Profile

Versant Corporation is a provider of data management software. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports database management system products that companies use to solve data management and data integration issues. It also provides related product support, training and consulting services to assist users of the Company’s products in developing and deploying software applications based on its products. The Company’s Versant Object Database product is used primarily by enterprises, which have data management requirements, such as technology providers, telecommunications carriers, Government defense agencies, defense contractors, healthcare companies and companies in the financial services and transportation industries.