Peoples Financial Services (PFIS) Projected to Post Earnings on Thursday

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) will likely be releasing its results before the market opens on Thursday, February 5th. Analysts expect Peoples Financial Services to post earnings of $1.52 per share and revenue of $48.25 million for the quarter.

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $3.19. The firm had revenue of $65.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.00 million. Peoples Financial Services had a return on equity of 18.32% and a net margin of 20.17%.

Peoples Financial Services Stock Up 2.7%

Shares of PFIS stock traded up $1.35 on Thursday, hitting $51.27. 20,902 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,893. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $512.19 million, a P/E ratio of 6.05 and a beta of 0.81. Peoples Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $38.90 and a fifty-two week high of $54.20. The business has a 50-day moving average of $50.00 and a 200 day moving average of $49.60.

Peoples Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $0.6175 per share. This represents a $2.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. Peoples Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.16%.

Institutional Trading of Peoples Financial Services

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its stake in Peoples Financial Services by 48.2% in the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 21,132 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,027,000 after buying an additional 6,873 shares during the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new position in shares of Peoples Financial Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $213,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 7.5% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,885 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 43.5% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 17,727 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $862,000 after purchasing an additional 5,370 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Peoples Financial Services by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 68,927 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,351,000 after purchasing an additional 5,237 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Peoples Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Peoples Financial Services in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Stephens set a $50.00 target price on Peoples Financial Services and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Hovde Group decreased their price target on Peoples Financial Services from $54.00 to $50.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.00.

About Peoples Financial Services

Peoples Financial Services Corporation is the bank holding company for PeoplesBank, a community-focused commercial bank headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, PeoplesBank, PFIS offers a full suite of banking services to individuals, small businesses, and commercial clients. These services include deposit accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, commercial and industrial lending, and treasury management solutions.

Founded in 1842, PeoplesBank has grown organically and through selective acquisitions to become a prominent community bank in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut.