Norwood Financial (NASDAQ:NWFL) Stock Price Crosses Above 50 Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

Shares of Norwood Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:NWFL) crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $33.98 and traded as high as $34.00. Norwood Financial shares last traded at $33.90, with a volume of 53,716 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on NWFL shares. Stephens reiterated a “mixed” rating and set a $35.00 price target (up from $34.00) on shares of Norwood Financial in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Norwood Financial in a research report on Friday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $35.00.

Norwood Financial Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $360.20 million, a P/E ratio of 11.39 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a fifty day moving average of $34.02 and a 200-day moving average of $31.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Norwood Financial (NASDAQ:NWFL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $29.37 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $28.10 million. Norwood Financial had a net margin of 18.68% and a return on equity of 12.88%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Norwood Financial Corp. will post 3.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norwood Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 15th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 15th. Norwood Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.14%.

Insider Activity

In other Norwood Financial news, Director James Shook bought 3,100 shares of Norwood Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $34.55 per share, for a total transaction of $107,105.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 12,586 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $434,846.30. This trade represents a 32.68% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Vincent O’bell sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.52, for a total transaction of $103,560.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,392 shares in the company, valued at $151,611.84. The trade was a 40.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 8.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norwood Financial

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Norwood Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $24,960,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new position in shares of Norwood Financial in the 2nd quarter worth about $5,603,000. Bulldog Investors LLP increased its position in shares of Norwood Financial by 165.0% during the 1st quarter. Bulldog Investors LLP now owns 170,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $5,001,000 after purchasing an additional 105,855 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Norwood Financial by 15.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 155,908 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,587,000 after buying an additional 21,248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Norwood Financial by 17.4% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 65,526 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,928,000 after buying an additional 9,720 shares in the last quarter. 28.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Norwood Financial Company Profile

Norwood Financial Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Through its subsidiary, Wayne Bank, the company provides community banking services to individuals, families, businesses and organizations.

Wayne Bank offers a range of deposit products, including checking, savings, money market and certificate of deposit accounts. Its lending activities include residential and commercial real estate loans, consumer loans, home equity financing and loans to small and mid-sized businesses.