In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Russell Investments Group Ltd. revealed that its holdings in shares of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE:WHG) have decreased by 36.5%. As a result of this change, the asset manager now owns only 174,532 shares of Westwood Holdings Group’s stock after selling 100,505 shares during the fourth quarter.
This information is significant as it showcases how one company can impact another company’s value through share ownership. With Russell Investments Group owning approximately 2.08% of Westwood Holdings Group, the sell-off could potentially suggest that they are no longer confident in the company’s performance or see more promising investment opportunities elsewhere.
Furthermore, Westwood Holdings Group recently announced that they will be paying out a quarterly dividend on Monday, July 3rd. This follows a pattern of consistent dividend payouts from the asset manager which has been noted for its generous dividends in comparison to industry standards.
Though it should be noted that Westwood Holdings’ dividend payout ratio is currently -117.65%, indicating that their dividend payments exceed their profits at present. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue or if adjustments will be made to ensure sustainable growth.
Despite these fluctuations, several research analysts have issued positive reports on WHG shares including TheStreet which upgraded their rating on May 15th from “d+” to “c-“. In addition, StockNews.com has recently given the stock a “buy” rating.
Overall, while changes in share ownership can stir uncertainty amongst investors, it’s important to keep an eye on how companies respond and strive towards long-term prosperity for all stakeholders involved.
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Institutional and Insider Interest in Westwood Holdings Group Increases, Signaling Future Growth Potential
The world of finance is always in a state of flux, and recent modifications in shareholdings of Westwood Holdings Group have caught the attention of investors. According to reports, several large investors have increased their holdings in the company – a sign that they believe in the growth prospects of this asset manager.
State Street Corp has raised its stakes by 6.2% and now owns 29,021 shares worth $449,000. Gabelli Funds LLC has also lifted its position by 2.4% to demonstrate its faith in Westwood Holdings Group’s future potential. Captrust Financial Advisors is another investor who has shown immense interest by increasing its position by a whopping 2,187.5%.
UBS Group AG now owns 4,139 shares after purchasing an additional 3,161 shares during the period to lift its position by 323.2%. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE has lifted its position by 9.2%, owning a total of 63,006 shares valued at $965,000 after acquiring an additional 5,306 shares during the last quarter.
While hedge funds and other institutional investors already constitute a significant chunk (58.86%) of the company’s stock portfolio, these recent changes suggest more and more investors are keen on joining the bandwagon.
Apart from these developments among large investors, two insiders have also recently sold parts of their Westwood Holdings Group stock portfolio – Leah Bennett and Matthew Lockridge both sold shares with average prices of $12.90 and $13.91 respectively.
Leah Bennett currently holds about 38,812 direct company stocks valued at $500,674.80 after selling her previous holding worth $25,800 total value while Matthew Lockridge currently holds about 79,404 direct stocks worth $1,104508 after selling off his previous holding valued at a total cost of $41,730.
These insider sales amount to over $146,072 worth of company stocks over the last three months, which is incidental as corporate insiders still hold a considerable amount, representing 10.10% of the company’s total stock.
Westwood Holdings Group is a respected figure in the world of financial assets management, and its shares have experienced some volatility in recent years with shares trading at a low of $9.45 and high of $16.80 in the past year. At present, WHG is opening at $12.33 on the market, with a fifty-day simple moving average of $11.46 and a two-hundred-day simple moving average of $11.67.
While these fluctuations may make investors nervous, it is essential to note that large-scale institutional investors have shown immense confidence in this asset management firm recently – indicating there might be more positive news on the horizon for Westwood Holdings Group and its shareholders alike.
