Walker & Dunlop, Inc. $WD Shares Sold by EULAV Asset Management

EULAV Asset Management trimmed its position in Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) by 77.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,600 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 30,300 shares during the period. EULAV Asset Management’s holdings in Walker & Dunlop were worth $517,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WD. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. lifted its position in Walker & Dunlop by 59.9% in the fourth quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. now owns 859,072 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $51,673,000 after purchasing an additional 321,734 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Walker & Dunlop in the second quarter worth approximately $15,147,000. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its position in Walker & Dunlop by 238.2% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 284,067 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $23,754,000 after purchasing an additional 200,074 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in Walker & Dunlop by 10.4% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,198,071 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $100,183,000 after purchasing an additional 113,282 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Walker & Dunlop by 49.0% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 303,242 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,357,000 after purchasing an additional 99,658 shares during the period. 80.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Walker & Dunlop

In related news, Director Dana L. Schmaltz acquired 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 18th. The stock was bought at an average price of $45.78 per share, for a total transaction of $45,780.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 84,325 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,860,398.50. The trade was a 1.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 4.02% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Stephens initiated coverage on Walker & Dunlop in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $69.00 target price for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Walker & Dunlop from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Walker & Dunlop from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded Walker & Dunlop from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Walker & Dunlop presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $79.20.

Walker & Dunlop Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WD opened at $51.23 on Friday. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. has a one year low of $42.12 and a one year high of $90.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $49.35 and a 200-day moving average of $55.77. The company has a market capitalization of $1.76 billion, a PE ratio of 25.36 and a beta of 1.50.

Walker & Dunlop Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 21st were given a dividend of $0.68 per share. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 21st. Walker & Dunlop’s dividend payout ratio is 134.65%.

Walker & Dunlop Profile

Walker & Dunlop is one of the largest providers of commercial real estate finance in the United States, specializing in the origination, servicing and sale of loans secured by multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, student housing and manufactured housing properties. The firm offers a full suite of debt and equity solutions, including agency financing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, HUD and FHA-insured loans, bridge and construction financing, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and investment sales advisory.

With roots dating back to 1937 and its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, Walker & Dunlop has expanded its platform through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.