StockNews.com Upgrades Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) to “Hold”

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday.

Peoples Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ PFIS opened at $54.71 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $546.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.70 and a beta of 0.50. Peoples Financial Services has a 12 month low of $36.26 and a 12 month high of $55.64. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.92. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Peoples Financial Services (NASDAQ:PFIS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $74.01 million for the quarter. Peoples Financial Services had a return on equity of 5.93% and a net margin of 10.07%. As a group, analysts predict that Peoples Financial Services will post 3.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in Peoples Financial Services by 87.7% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,589 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Peoples Financial Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $149,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its position in shares of Peoples Financial Services by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 8,749 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $398,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd lifted its holdings in Peoples Financial Services by 46.7% in the first quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 10,707 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 3,409 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in Peoples Financial Services by 14.5% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 12,450 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $567,000 after acquiring an additional 1,576 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.67% of the company’s stock.

Peoples Financial Services Company Profile

Peoples Financial Services Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company that provides various commercial and retail banking services. The company accepts money market, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, individual retirement, demand deposit, and certificates of deposit accounts.