Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:AGO), a financial services provider, received a new stake from Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC during the second quarter of this year. According to the recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Counterpoint Mutual Funds purchased 2,291 shares of Assured Guaranty’s stock, valued at approximately $128,000.
In other news, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Assured Guaranty in a research note on August 17th. They provided a “hold” rating for the stock.
On Friday, September 22, NYSE AGO opened at $60.32. Over the past year, Assured Guaranty has experienced a low of $45.21 and a high of $67.13. The company currently holds a market cap of $3.54 billion with a P/E ratio of 11.83 and a beta of 1.10. The stock’s fifty-day moving average price stands at $59.73, while its 200-day moving average price is recorded at $55.27. Furthermore, Assured Guaranty exhibits a current ratio of 0.97 and quick ratio of 0.97, indicating relatively stable liquidity levels. The company also maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.
This new investment by Counterpoint Mutual Funds showcases their confidence in the potential growth prospects of Assured Guaranty Ltd., as they have added to their holdings in the company during the second quarter of this year.
Analysts from StockNews.com have started coverage on Assured Guaranty with a “hold” rating for investors to consider when making their investment decisions.
As per market performance on September 22nd, NYSE AGO opened at $60.32 and continues trading within its one-year range between $45.21 and $67.13. Throughout this period, Assured Guaranty has maintained market capitalization of $3.54 billion with a P/E ratio of 11.83, indicating a relatively undervalued stock. Although the beta of 1.10 suggests some sensitivity to market movements, it does not exhibit significant volatility compared to the broader market. The company’s fifty-day moving average and 200-day moving average prices indicate overall stability in its trading patterns.
Assured Guaranty demonstrates good liquidity with current and quick ratios both standing at 0.97, suggesting that the company can meet its short-term obligations efficiently. Additionally, the debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31 reflects a healthy balance between borrowing and equity financing.
In conclusion, Counterpoint Mutual Funds’ recent stake acquisition in Assured Guaranty Ltd., along with StockNews.com’s coverage initiation recommending a “hold” rating on the stock, indicates growing interest and confidence among investors in the company’s financial performance and potential for growth.
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Mixed Sentiments Surrounding Assured Guaranty’s Investor Positions and Financial Performance
Assured Guaranty Limited (NYSE: AGO), a leading financial services provider, has recently seen several hedge funds make changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank, for example, acquired a new stake in Assured Guaranty during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,561,000.
Vanguard Group Inc., another prominent investor, boosted its position in Assured Guaranty by 5.5% during the first quarter and now owns 7,928,269 shares of the company’s stock valued at $504,714,000. Royce & Associates LP also saw substantial growth in its stake in Assured Guaranty, with an increase of 169.5% during the first quarter.
Alongside these hedge funds, Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in Assured Guaranty worth $10,380,000 during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC also experienced significant growth during the second quarter with a 102.8% increase in its stake.
These investments by various hedge funds and institutional investors reflect confidence in Assured Guaranty’s potential for growth and profitability. As of now, 88.77% of the stock is owned by such investors.
In separate news related to Assured Guaranty, CEO Dominic Frederico sold 29,977 shares of the company’s stock on Wednesday, September 13th. The average selling price was $61.13 per share which resulted in a total transaction value of $1,832,494.01. Following this sale, Frederico now holds directly over one million shares of Assure Guaranty worth approximately $83 million.
Additionally CFO Robert Bailenson sold 10,000 shares on Tuesday August 22nd at an average price of $57.19 per share amounting to a total value of $571,900.00. Following this transaction Bailenson retains ownership of approximately 316,936 shares valued at $18,125,569.
It is worth noting that over the last ninety days, insiders have sold a total of 49,977 shares of company stock valued at $2,987,694. Insiders currently own 3.82% of Assured Guaranty’s outstanding shares.
StockNews.com recently initiated coverage on Assured Guaranty with a “hold” rating on August 17th. This positive evaluation speaks to the potential of the company and its ability to deliver returns to investors.
Assured Guaranty released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The financial services provider reported EPS (earnings per share) of $0.60 for the quarter, falling short of analysts’ consensus estimates by ($0.54). While this may initially cause concern among some investors, it is important to consider that Assured Guaranty had a return on equity of 4.73% and a net margin of 31.86%. Additionally, the company generated revenue of $206 million during the quarter compared to analysts’ expectations of $172.20 million.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the fiscal year, equities analysts forecast that Assured Guaranty Ltd. will post an EPS of 3.85.
Finally, shareholders should note that Assured Guaranty recently announced a quarterly dividend which was paid on Wednesday, August 30th. Investors who held shares as of Wednesday, August 16th received a dividend payment of $0.28 per share. With an ex-dividend date set as Tuesday, August 15th, this represents an annualized dividend payout ratio (DPR) of approximately 21.96% and a dividend yield of 1.86%.
These recent developments in both investor positions and financial performance demonstrate mixed sentiments towards Assured Guaranty’s future prospects and underline its position as an industry leader in the financial services sector. Shareholders and potential investors now eagerly await further updates and future performance of Assured Guaranty.
