Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. Takes Position in Wells Fargo & Company $WFC

Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 1,855,506 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $153,339,000.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Miller Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Navalign LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Joseph Group Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Phillip James Consulting Co. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Raymond James Financial restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Phillip Securities upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a “moderate buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, June 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $98.61.

Key Headlines Impacting Wells Fargo & Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Profitability momentum: Wells Fargo has improved return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) from 8% in late 2020 to 14.6% at the end of 2025 and is targeting 17%–18%. Sustaining those gains could support a higher valuation as regulatory and restructuring burdens ease. Wells Fargo Hits 17%-18% ROTCE Target: Can It Sustain the Momentum?
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation appeal: An analyst comparison characterized WFC as offering a lower valuation and improving efficiency than PNC Financial, potentially giving Wells Fargo more upside if earnings remain strong. The bank’s latest reported quarter also exceeded consensus estimates for both earnings and revenue, with revenue up year over year. Wells Fargo vs. PNC Financial: Which Stock Offers Better Upside Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition speculation: Wells Fargo has become a focus of broader banking-sector merger speculation, including possible interest involving Citizens Financial. No transaction has been announced, so the development provides limited immediate fundamental impact. Wells Fargo at center of attention as acquisition speculation rises in banking sector
• Neutral Sentiment: Community investments: New affordable-housing and financial-education commitments in North Dakota and Wyoming reinforce Wells Fargo’s community-banking initiatives but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Wells Fargo Expands Affordable Senior Housing and Financial Education With $1.2 Million in North Dakota
• Negative Sentiment: Commercial real estate exposure: Wells Fargo is foreclosing on Workspace Property Trust’s roughly $1.3 billion property portfolio after declining occupancy and asset values increased financial stress. The move may enable collateral recovery, but it also underscores potential losses and credit risks in the bank’s commercial real estate book. Wells Fargo Forecloses On $1.3B Workspace Property Trust Loan

Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance

Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $85.24 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $257.77 billion, a PE ratio of 12.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.92. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $72.78 and a one year high of $97.76.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.23. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 13.85% and a net margin of 17.55%.The firm had revenue of $22.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.60 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 7.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 7th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 7th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Wells Fargo & Company’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.07%.

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.