Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Makes New Investment in Versant Corporation $VSNT

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA acquired a new stake in shares of Versant Corporation (NASDAQ:VSNT) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 22,788 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $844,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of VSNT. AdvisorNet Financial Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Versant in the first quarter worth about $37,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S acquired a new stake in Versant during the first quarter worth about $42,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Versant during the first quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Webster Bank N. A. purchased a new position in Versant during the first quarter valued at approximately $66,000. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co acquired a new position in Versant in the first quarter valued at approximately $103,000.

Versant Trading Down 3.7%

NASDAQ VSNT opened at $36.00 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $5.08 billion and a PE ratio of 18.09. Versant Corporation has a twelve month low of $27.17 and a twelve month high of $59.00. The company has a quick ratio of 2.32, a current ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $39.99.

Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 14th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter. Equities analysts predict that Versant Corporation will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Versant Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 1st will be given a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 1st. Versant’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 75.38%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on VSNT shares. Zacks Research lowered Versant from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Versant from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Versant from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Seaport Research Partners reissued a “buy” rating and set a $46.00 price target on shares of Versant in a report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Versant in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $43.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.40.

Versant Profile

Versant Corporation is a provider of data management software. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports database management system products that companies use to solve data management and data integration issues. It also provides related product support, training and consulting services to assist users of the Company’s products in developing and deploying software applications based on its products. The Company’s Versant Object Database product is used primarily by enterprises, which have data management requirements, such as technology providers, telecommunications carriers, Government defense agencies, defense contractors, healthcare companies and companies in the financial services and transportation industries.