AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) Lowered to Sell at StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report report published on Monday.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. TheStreet raised AMERISAFE from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $65.00 target price on shares of AMERISAFE in a report on Monday, April 15th.

AMERISAFE Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of AMERISAFE stock opened at $47.53 on Monday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.25. AMERISAFE has a 12-month low of $44.61 and a 12-month high of $56.84. The stock has a market cap of $909.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.81 and a beta of 0.35.

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The insurance provider reported $0.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $80.49 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $75.22 million. AMERISAFE had a return on equity of 16.76% and a net margin of 19.97%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.83 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that AMERISAFE will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AMERISAFE Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 14th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.11%. AMERISAFE’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.11%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AMERISAFE

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of AMERISAFE during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in AMERISAFE during the first quarter worth $154,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in AMERISAFE by 26.9% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,901 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $182,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares in the last quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in AMERISAFE by 16.8% in the fourth quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. now owns 4,782 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of AMERISAFE in the fourth quarter valued at $232,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.41% of the company’s stock.

About AMERISAFE

AMERISAFE, Inc, an insurance holding company, underwrites workers' compensation insurance in the United States. The company provides benefits to injured employees for temporary or permanent disability, death, and medical and hospital expenses. It sells its products through retail and wholesale brokers and agents; and small and mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, including construction, trucking, logging and lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, and maritime.