Waterstone Financial said on June 29, 2023 that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share ($0.80 annualized). Previously, the company paid $0.20 per share.
Shareholders of record as of July 10, 2023 will receive the payment on August 2, 2023.
At the current share price of $14.58 / share, the stock’s dividend yield is 5.49%.
Looking back five years and taking a sample every week, the average dividend yield has been 6.86%, the lowest has been 5.11%, and the highest has been 9.90%. The standard deviation of yields is 1.14 (n=235).
The current dividend yield is 1.21 standard deviations below the historical average.
Additionally, the company’s dividend payout ratio is 1.65. The payout ratio tells us how much of a company’s income is paid out in dividends. A payout ratio of one (1.0) means 100% of the company’s income is paid in a dividend. A payout ratio greater than one means the company is dipping into savings in order to maintain its dividend – not a healthy situation. Companies with few growth prospects are expected to pay out most of their income in dividends, which typically means a payout ratio between 0.5 and 1.0. Companies with good growth prospects are expected to retain some earnings in order to invest in those growth prospects, which translates to a payout ratio of zero to 0.5.
The company’s 3-Year dividend growth rate is 0.33%, demonstrating that it has increased its dividend over time.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 278 funds or institutions reporting positions in Waterstone Financial. This is a decrease of 10 owner(s) or 3.47% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to WSBF is 0.06%, a decrease of 29.12%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 1.87% to 13,672K shares. 
The put/call ratio of WSBF is 0.80, indicating a bullish outlook.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 8.44% Upside
As of July 6, 2023, the average one-year price target for Waterstone Financial is 15.81. The forecasts range from a low of 15.66 to a high of $16.28. The average price target represents an increase of 8.44% from its latest reported closing price of 14.58.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Waterstone Financial is 59MM, a decrease of 61.13%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 1.25.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Renaissance Technologies holds 1,327K shares representing 6.39% ownership of the company. In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 1,347K shares, representing a decrease of 1.45%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in WSBF by 16.09% over the last quarter.
rhino investment partners holds 722K shares representing 3.48% ownership of the company. In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 435K shares, representing an increase of 39.83%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in WSBF by 8.31% over the last quarter.
VTSMX – Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 602K shares representing 2.90% ownership of the company. In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 600K shares, representing an increase of 0.27%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in WSBF by 18.75% over the last quarter.
IWM – iShares Russell 2000 ETF holds 433K shares representing 2.08% ownership of the company. In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 499K shares, representing a decrease of 15.13%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in WSBF by 20.36% over the last quarter.
DFSVX – U.s. Small Cap Value Portfolio – Institutional Class holds 432K shares representing 2.08% ownership of the company. In it’s prior filing, the firm reported owning 477K shares, representing a decrease of 10.40%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in WSBF by 13.11% over the last quarter.
Waterstone Financial Background Information
(This description is provided by the company.)
Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank. WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa/State St, Brookfield, Fox Point/North Shore, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Greenfield/Loomis Rd, Oak Creek/27th St, Oak Creek/Howell Ave, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha, West Allis/Greenfield Ave, and West Allis/National Ave, Wisconsin along with a commercial lending office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which has the ability to lend in 48 states.
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
