Brokerages Set Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) PT at $124.00

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) has been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $124.00.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Axis Capital from a “buy (a-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $122.00 target price on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Compass Point set a $121.00 target price on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Monday, November 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Axis Capital from $124.00 to $121.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $121.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Axis Capital in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Axis Capital in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Smithfield Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Axis Capital by 94.0% in the second quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 293 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC acquired a new position in Axis Capital during the second quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Axis Capital during the second quarter worth $41,000. 93.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Axis Capital Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:AXS opened at $101.08 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $104.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $99.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.67. The company has a market capitalization of $7.79 billion, a PE ratio of 8.16, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.63. Axis Capital has a 52 week low of $84.81 and a 52 week high of $110.34.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The insurance provider reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.33 billion. Axis Capital had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 18.90%. The firm’s revenue was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.38 EPS. Analysts forecast that Axis Capital will post 11.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Axis Capital Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Axis Capital’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 14.21%.

Axis Capital Company Profile

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.