Fidelity National Financial (NYSE:FNF) Sets New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $65.65 and last traded at $65.44, with a volume of 67663 shares. The stock had previously closed at $64.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on FNF. Stephens boosted their price target on Fidelity National Financial from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. StockNews.com raised Fidelity National Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Fidelity National Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Barclays boosted their price target on Fidelity National Financial from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Fidelity National Financial from $64.00 to $63.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Fidelity National Financial currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $70.40.

Fidelity National Financial Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average of $57.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $59.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.02 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a current ratio of 0.24.

Fidelity National Financial (NYSE:FNF) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.23 by $0.11. Fidelity National Financial had a return on equity of 15.36% and a net margin of 9.28%. The firm had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Fidelity National Financial, Inc. will post 6.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fidelity National Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.07%. Fidelity National Financial’s payout ratio is 43.01%.

Insider Activity at Fidelity National Financial

In other Fidelity National Financial news, Director Halim Dhanidina sold 2,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.85, for a total value of $153,580.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,716 shares in the company, valued at $916,872.60. The trade was a 14.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Sandra Douglass Morgan sold 2,092 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.33, for a total value of $117,842.36. Following the sale, the director now owns 32,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,824,303.38. The trade was a 6.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 5.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fidelity National Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Commerce Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 5,991 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC raised its position in Fidelity National Financial by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC now owns 16,686 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $937,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its position in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 72,200 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,053,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 50.6% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 622 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Essex Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Fidelity National Financial by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 4,206 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $236,000 after buying an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. 81.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Fidelity National Financial

Fidelity National Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various insurance products in the United States. The company operates through Title, F&G, and Corporate and Other segments. It offers title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including trust activities, trustee sales guarantees, recordings and reconveyances, and home warranty products.