Enterprise Financial Services Corporation (NASDAQ:EFSC) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

Enterprise Financial Services Corporation (NASDAQ:EFSC) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 466,490 shares, a decrease of 20.8% from the December 15th total of 589,082 shares. Approximately 1.3% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 202,552 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 202,552 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days. Approximately 1.3% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Enterprise Financial Services Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of NASDAQ EFSC traded down $0.73 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $55.48. 141,589 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 149,123. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Enterprise Financial Services has a 1 year low of $45.22 and a 1 year high of $62.60. The stock has a market cap of $2.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.79 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $54.90 and a 200 day moving average of $56.42.

Enterprise Financial Services (NASDAQ:EFSC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 27th. The bank reported $1.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.30 by ($0.10). Enterprise Financial Services had a net margin of 19.98% and a return on equity of 10.82%. The firm had revenue of $177.84 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $176.52 million. On average, research analysts expect that Enterprise Financial Services will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Enterprise Financial Services Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Enterprise Financial Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Enterprise Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 24.90%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 8.6% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,622,760 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $152,068,000 after purchasing an additional 207,256 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in Enterprise Financial Services by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,422,965 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $78,405,000 after buying an additional 20,794 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 146.8% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 969,533 shares of the bank’s stock worth $56,213,000 after acquiring an additional 576,655 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 934,727 shares of the bank’s stock worth $51,510,000 after acquiring an additional 7,726 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Enterprise Financial Services by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 919,831 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $53,332,000 after acquiring an additional 10,787 shares during the last quarter. 72.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on EFSC. Weiss Ratings lowered Enterprise Financial Services from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $69.00 target price on shares of Enterprise Financial Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Enterprise Financial Services from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Enterprise Financial Services from $68.00 to $66.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Enterprise Financial Services from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $65.67.

About Enterprise Financial Services

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ: EFSC) is a bank holding company headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, operating through its primary subsidiary, Enterprise Bank & Trust. The company provides a comprehensive range of banking and financial services to individuals, small- and mid-sized businesses, and institutional clients. Its capabilities encompass deposit products, lending solutions, mortgage banking, and treasury management, supported by a full suite of digital banking tools and personalized client service.

In its commercial banking segment, Enterprise Bank & Trust offers lines of credit, equipment financing, commercial real estate loans, construction lending and agriculture lending.