Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE:WDR) – Research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group issued their Q1 2021 EPS estimates for Waddell & Reed Financial in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, March 17th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst D. Fannon anticipates that the asset manager will earn $0.11 per share for the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Waddell & Reed Financial’s Q2 2021 earnings at $0.13 EPS, Q3 2021 earnings at $0.15 EPS and Q4 2021 earnings at $0.15 EPS.
Waddell & Reed Financial (NYSE:WDR) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The asset manager reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $270.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $268.85 million. Waddell & Reed Financial had a net margin of 10.74% and a return on equity of 15.74%. The firm’s revenue was down .8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.60 earnings per share.
WDR has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Waddell & Reed Financial from $15.00 to $11.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sell” rating and set a $14.00 price objective on shares of Waddell & Reed Financial in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Waddell & Reed Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $17.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, February 24th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Waddell & Reed Financial presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $15.17.
Shares of NYSE:WDR opened at $11.81 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $14.77 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.10. The stock has a market cap of $793.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.57 and a beta of 1.41. Waddell & Reed Financial has a fifty-two week low of $9.87 and a fifty-two week high of $19.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 3.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.
Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Marshall Wace North America L.P. acquired a new stake in Waddell & Reed Financial during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC acquired a new position in shares of Waddell & Reed Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Waddell & Reed Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Advisor Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Waddell & Reed Financial by 1,419.5% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Inc. now owns 6,169 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $103,000 after acquiring an additional 5,763 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Waddell & Reed Financial by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,206 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the period.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.47%. Waddell & Reed Financial’s payout ratio is currently 53.19%.
Waddell & Reed Financial Company Profile
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides investment management and advisory, investment product underwriting and distribution, and shareholder services administration to mutual funds, and institutional and separately managed accounts in the United States. The company acts as an investment adviser for institutional and other private investors, and provides sub advisory services to other investment companies; and underwrites and distributes registered open-end mutual fund portfolios.
