Brokerages Set Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF) Target Price at $117.71

Shares of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the eight ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $117.86.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on SF. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Stifel Financial from $128.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JMP Securities increased their price objective on Stifel Financial from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Stifel Financial in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded Stifel Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Stifel Financial from $121.00 to $105.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stifel Financial

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in Stifel Financial during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 52.1% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 321 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 123.6% during the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 331 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 46.5% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 457 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Stifel Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.01% of the company’s stock.

Stifel Financial Trading Down 8.4 %

NYSE:SF opened at $78.82 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $8.18 billion, a PE ratio of 12.63 and a beta of 1.08. Stifel Financial has a 52-week low of $73.51 and a 52-week high of $120.64. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $103.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.96 by $0.27. Stifel Financial had a net margin of 14.00% and a return on equity of 16.59%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Stifel Financial will post 8.26 EPS for the current year.

Stifel Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. This is an increase from Stifel Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Stifel Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.49%.

Stifel Financial Company Profile

Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other.