Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT) Short Interest Down 25.3% in December

Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,353,395 shares, a decrease of 25.3% from the December 15th total of 1,811,967 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days. Currently, 1.4% of the company’s stock are sold short. Currently, 1.4% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Essent Group from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Essent Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $70.00 price target on shares of Essent Group in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Essent Group from $65.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Essent Group from $66.00 to $65.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essent Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.29.

Essent Group Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:ESNT traded down $0.19 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $60.94. 1,185,805 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 625,235. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $63.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 1.68. Essent Group has a 52-week low of $51.61 and a 52-week high of $67.09. The company has a market capitalization of $5.89 billion, a PE ratio of 8.87, a P/E/G ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.90.

Essent Group (NYSE:ESNT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The financial services provider reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by ($0.08). Essent Group had a return on equity of 12.40% and a net margin of 55.63%.The firm had revenue of $311.83 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $316.84 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.65 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Essent Group will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essent Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Essent Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.05%.

Insider Activity at Essent Group

In related news, SVP Mary Lourdes Gibbons sold 4,352 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total transaction of $291,584.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 237,896 shares in the company, valued at $15,939,032. The trade was a 1.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Roy James Kasmar sold 3,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.44, for a total value of $199,680.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 23,573 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,448,325.12. The trade was a 12.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 2.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essent Group

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Essent Group by 184.8% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 343,101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $20,837,000 after acquiring an additional 222,613 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 531.1% during the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 25,157 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,599,000 after purchasing an additional 21,171 shares in the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Essent Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $314,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Essent Group by 169.6% in the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,499 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $959,000 after purchasing an additional 9,751 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC bought a new position in Essent Group in the second quarter worth $464,000. 93.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Essent Group

Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT) is a publicly traded insurance holding company specializing in private mortgage insurance and mortgage reinsurance solutions. Through its primary subsidiary, Essent Guaranty, the company provides credit protection to mortgage lenders, helping mitigate the risk of borrower default on residential mortgage loans. Essent’s insurance policies enable lenders to offer low-down-payment programs, supporting homebuyers in achieving homeownership with reduced upfront equity requirements.

Beyond traditional mortgage insurance, Essent offers a suite of risk management and analytics services designed to help financial institutions monitor and manage mortgage portfolios.