Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN) Shares Purchased by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN) by 54.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 47,336 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 16,703 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Willdan Group were worth $1,803,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Graham Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Willdan Group in the 4th quarter worth about $213,000. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of Willdan Group by 358.0% during the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 34,935 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,331,000 after buying an additional 27,308 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its position in shares of Willdan Group by 40.9% in the fourth quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 86,371 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $3,290,000 after buying an additional 25,061 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Willdan Group in the fourth quarter worth about $607,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in Willdan Group by 116.8% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,843 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $832,000 after acquiring an additional 11,770 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Mohammad Shahidehpour sold 2,273 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $89,101.60. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $500,466.40. The trade was a 15.11% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 9.80% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WLDN has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wedbush raised shares of Willdan Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. StockNews.com cut Willdan Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th.

Willdan Group Trading Up 2.9%

Shares of WLDN opened at $48.63 on Friday. Willdan Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $27.19 and a 12-month high of $50.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $704.99 million, a P/E ratio of 29.83 and a beta of 1.09. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $40.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Willdan Group Company Profile

Willdan Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional, technical, and consulting services primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Energy, and Engineering and Consulting. The Energy segment offers comprehensive audit and surveys, program design and implementation, master planning, demand reduction, grid optimization, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, measurement and verification services, and software and data analytics, as well as energy consulting and engineering, turnkey facility and infrastructure projects, and customer support services.