MQS Management LLC Buys New Stake in AMERISAFE, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMSF)

MQS Management LLC bought a new stake in AMERISAFE, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMSF) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,631 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $296,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AMERISAFE in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in AMERISAFE by 19.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,600 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in AMERISAFE in the 4th quarter valued at about $180,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in AMERISAFE by 336.1% in the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 3,925 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 3,025 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in AMERISAFE in the 4th quarter valued at about $207,000. 97.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AMERISAFE Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of AMERISAFE stock opened at $44.82 on Tuesday. AMERISAFE, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $42.48 and a fifty-two week high of $60.24. The firm has a market cap of $853.82 million, a PE ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.40. The business’s fifty day moving average is $45.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $48.56.

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The insurance provider reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.01. AMERISAFE had a return on equity of 16.41% and a net margin of 15.76%. The firm had revenue of $83.78 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $76.66 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that AMERISAFE, Inc. will post 2.45 EPS for the current year.

AMERISAFE Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. AMERISAFE’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and set a $65.00 price objective on shares of AMERISAFE in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th.

AMERISAFE Profile

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.