StockNews.com Lowers AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) to Sell

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Monday.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on AMSF. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of AMERISAFE in a research report on Monday, April 15th. TheStreet upgraded AMERISAFE from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a report on Monday, March 4th.

AMERISAFE Stock Up 0.9 %

AMERISAFE stock traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $47.53. 67,643 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 133,044. The stock has a market capitalization of $909.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.81 and a beta of 0.35. AMERISAFE has a 12 month low of $44.61 and a 12 month high of $56.84. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $49.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.25.

AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The insurance provider reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $80.49 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $75.22 million. AMERISAFE had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 16.76%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.83 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that AMERISAFE will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in AMERISAFE by 17.1% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 12,407 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $622,000 after buying an additional 1,809 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of AMERISAFE in the first quarter worth approximately $743,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AMERISAFE by 209.8% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 5,508 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 3,730 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in AMERISAFE by 132.8% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 35,128 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,762,000 after acquiring an additional 20,040 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co boosted its holdings in AMERISAFE by 32.2% during the 1st quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 7,361 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $369,000 after acquiring an additional 1,792 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.41% of the company’s stock.

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.