AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Friday.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. TheStreet upgraded AMERISAFE from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of AMERISAFE in a research note on Monday, April 15th.

AMERISAFE Stock Performance

AMSF opened at $45.56 on Friday. AMERISAFE has a one year low of $44.88 and a one year high of $57.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $871.79 million, a PE ratio of 14.19 and a beta of 0.32. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $50.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.50.

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The insurance provider reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.08. AMERISAFE had a return on equity of 16.76% and a net margin of 19.97%. The firm had revenue of $73.88 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $75.15 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that AMERISAFE will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AMERISAFE Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 14th. AMERISAFE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.11%.

Institutional Trading of AMERISAFE

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AMSF. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in shares of AMERISAFE by 0.9% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 46,287 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,318,000 after acquiring an additional 431 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its stake in shares of AMERISAFE by 28.4% in the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 6,320 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $316,000 after acquiring an additional 1,396 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio raised its stake in shares of AMERISAFE by 4.5% in the third quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 13,900 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $695,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AMERISAFE in the third quarter valued at $270,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of AMERISAFE by 4.9% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 6,178 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $309,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. 97.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AMERISAFE Company Profile

AMERISAFE, Inc, an insurance holding company, underwrites workers' compensation insurance in the United States. The company provides benefits to injured employees for temporary or permanent disability, death, and medical and hospital expenses. It sells its products through retail and wholesale brokers and agents; and small and mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, including construction, trucking, logging and lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, and maritime.