Monte Financial Group LLC lowered its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC – Free Report) by 14.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 92,903 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 15,281 shares during the quarter. Wells Fargo & Company comprises 3.2% of Monte Financial Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Monte Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $8,659,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 18.6% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 35,660,903 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,989,104,000 after purchasing an additional 5,584,930 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.9% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 21,009,237 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,760,994,000 after purchasing an additional 399,088 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 7.4% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 17,859,680 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,496,998,000 after purchasing an additional 1,223,999 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.9% in the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 9,128,470 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $763,675,000 after purchasing an additional 174,350 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 2.2% in the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 7,673,807 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $643,219,000 after purchasing an additional 165,240 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of research analysts recently commented on WFC shares. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $113.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $97.70.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, EVP Ellen R. Patterson sold 60,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.40, for a total value of $5,244,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 169,496 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,813,950.40. This trade represents a 26.14% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Bridget E. Engle sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.10, for a total value of $2,613,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 83,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,270,933.80. This trade represents a 26.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 115,000 shares of company stock valued at $10,050,000. Insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.
Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance
Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $84.72 on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company has a twelve month low of $59.43 and a twelve month high of $97.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The company has a market capitalization of $261.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.06. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $83.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $86.19.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $21.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.90% and a net margin of 17.27%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year.
Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 6th were issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Wells Fargo & Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.71%.
Trending Headlines about Wells Fargo & Company
Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Macro ceasefire lifts banks — Wells Fargo rallied after President Trump announced a two‑week suspension of attacks on Iran, sending oil prices lower and easing immediate growth and cost worries for banks. This was a direct, short‑term positive for WFC. Wells Fargo (WFC) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
- Positive Sentiment: Jefferies bullish initiation — Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy and $100 price target, arguing WFC is starting a multi‑year recovery; that endorsement provides a bullish counterweight to recent cuts. Here’s Why Jefferies Remains a Buy on Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)
- Neutral Sentiment: Earnings preview and expectations — Multiple previews note WFC is expected to report growth but may lack the setup for an obvious beat; investors should focus on loan growth, NII (net interest income) and guidance on Fed‑rate outlook. Wells Fargo (WFC) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week’s Release
- Neutral Sentiment: Balance‑sheet and product moves — Recent senior note issuances and an expanded FX payments workflow (partnerships enabling community banks to send foreign‑currency wires) signal active funding and fee‑income initiatives; these are constructive but incremental. Is Wells Fargo (WFC) Quietly Redefining Its Balance Sheet Strategy With New Notes and FX Deals?
- Neutral Sentiment: Community investment — A $6M philanthropic investment in West Charlotte improves PR and community lending ties but is unlikely to move near‑term earnings. Wells Fargo Helps Drive Growth in West Charlotte with $6 Million
- Negative Sentiment: Analyst target cuts and caution — JPMorgan trimmed its WFC price target (citing volatility/risk in the banking outlook) and issued a more cautious view, which caps near‑term analyst‑driven upside and can weigh on momentum if other brokers follow. JPMorgan Trims Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) Target, Flags Volatility Risks for Banks
About Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.
Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.
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