Quick Look:
- Stock Performance: Verint Systems saw its stock price increase from $31.36 to $31.78, with 238,875 shares traded.
- Financial Metrics: Verint has a market cap of $2.14 billion and a high P/E ratio of 119.73, with a PEG ratio of 1.20.
- Insider Trading: Significant insider selling, including the CEO and President, with insiders holding 1.70% of shares.
- Hedge funds and institutional investors hold 94.95% of shares, indicating strong confidence in the company’s growth prospects.
Verint Systems Inc., trading on NASDAQ under the ticker VRNT, experienced a notable uptick in its stock price. Starting the trading day at $31.36 and closing at $31.78, reflecting a positive market sentiment. The volume of shares traded reached 238,875, indicating a strong interest in the company’s stock.
Analysts Set Verint Price Targets Between $36 and $40
Several prominent brokerages have recently weighed in on Verint Systems’ stock, signalling varied expectations for its performance. The Royal Bank of Canada has issued an “outperform” rating, setting a price target of $36.00, suggesting a significant upside potential from the current levels. Needham & Company LLC also expressed optimism with a “buy” rating and a higher price target of $40.00, reflecting confidence in Verint’s growth trajectory. Meanwhile, TheStreet upgraded its rating from “d+” to “c-,” signalling a moderate improvement in the company’s perceived financial health. StockNews.com revised their rating from “hold” to “buy,” further reinforcing positive investor sentiment. On the other hand, Oppenheimer provided a “market perform” rating, indicating a more cautious outlook.
Analysts’ Average Target for Verint: $35.20, 5 Buy Ratings
The consensus among six analysts covering Verint Systems presents a generally optimistic view, with one recommending a hold and the remaining five advocating for a buy. The average target price is pegged at $35.20, classifying the stock as a “Moderate Buy.” This consensus reflects a balanced perspective on Verint’s future prospects, with most analysts anticipating continued growth.
In terms of financial performance, Verint Systems boasts a market capitalisation of $2.14 billion. The company’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at a high of 119.73, which may indicate investor expectations of robust future earnings growth despite being significantly above the industry average. The price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio is a more moderate 1.20, suggesting the stock is reasonably priced relative to its expected earnings growth rate. Verint’s beta of 1.21 also implies a higher volatility level than the overall market, which can attract investors seeking higher returns.
Verint’s Current Ratio at 1.37, Debt-to-Equity 0.49
The company maintains solid liquidity with a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.34, reflecting its capability to meet short-term obligations. The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49 indicates a moderate level of debt, suggesting prudent financial management. Verint’s 50-day and 200-day moving averages are $30.88 and $29.41, respectively, indicating a steady upward trend in the stock price.
In the latest earnings report dated March 27th, Verint Systems exceeded expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.80, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.76. The company reported revenues of $265.22 million, surpassing the forecasted $261.45 million. These results highlight a return on equity of 16.60% and a net margin of 4.24%, underscoring the company’s profitability and efficient use of equity capital. The annual earnings forecast predicts an EPS of $1.97, suggesting continued strong performance.
Insiders Sold $4.87M in Shares Over 90 Days
Insider activity within Verint Systems has been significant. CEO Dan Bodner sold 35,039 shares at $30.00 each on April 23rd, totalling $1,051,170. He currently retains 991,748 shares, valued at approximately $29.75 million. President Elan Moriah also divested 14,353 shares on April 1st at a sale price of $32.62, amassing $468,194.86. His remaining holdings of 79,953 shares are valued at $2.61 million. Over the past 90 days, insiders have sold a total of 158,988 shares, amounting to $4.87 million. The total insider ownership stands at 1.70%, which, while relatively low, indicates a degree of confidence from within the company’s leadership.
Institutional Investors Hold 94.95% of Verint Shares
Hedge fund activity also paints a positive picture for Verint Systems. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings by 764.2% in Q4, now owning 1,037 shares. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC and NBC Securities Inc. both initiated new positions with investment values of $30,000 and $42,000, respectively. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC expanded their stake by 173.7% in Q1, now holding 1,188 shares. CWM LLC increased their position by 61.2% in Q4, bringing its total shares to 2,110. Overall, institutional investors hold a commanding 94.95% of Verint’s shares, indicating strong institutional confidence in the company’s future.
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