Short Interest in Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WABC) Grows By 21.7%

Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WABC) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 280,700 shares, a growth of 21.7% from the February 28th total of 230,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 139,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 1.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Westamerica Bancorporation Price Performance

WABC stock opened at $50.13 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.64 and a beta of 0.55. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $50.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Westamerica Bancorporation has a 12-month low of $45.11 and a 12-month high of $59.97.

Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WABC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19. Westamerica Bancorporation had a return on equity of 16.15% and a net margin of 44.55%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Westamerica Bancorporation will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Westamerica Bancorporation Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. Westamerica Bancorporation’s dividend payout ratio is presently 33.85%.

Institutional Trading of Westamerica Bancorporation

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Westamerica Bancorporation by 815.6% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 824 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Westamerica Bancorporation in the fourth quarter worth about $65,000. KBC Group NV raised its stake in Westamerica Bancorporation by 71.4% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,974 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 822 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Westamerica Bancorporation by 14.1% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,166 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new stake in Westamerica Bancorporation during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.89% of the company’s stock.

About Westamerica Bancorporation

Westamerica Bancorporation operates as a bank holding company for the Westamerica Bank that provides various banking products and services to individual and commercial customers. The company accepts various deposit products, including retail savings and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.