Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $313,000 Holdings in Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN)

Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN) by 9.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,207 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.06% of Willdan Group worth $313,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Willdan Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Willdan Group by 343.6% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,935 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $161,000 after acquiring an additional 3,048 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in shares of Willdan Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $201,000. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Willdan Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $208,000. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Willdan Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $311,000. 72.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Willdan Group Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:WLDN opened at $41.80 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $35.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.51. Willdan Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.83 and a twelve month high of $50.00. The company has a market cap of $590.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.64 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WLDN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Willdan Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $56.00 price target (up previously from $51.00) on shares of Willdan Group in a research note on Friday.

Insider Activity at Willdan Group

In related news, CFO Creighton K. Early sold 4,349 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.13, for a total transaction of $187,572.37. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 69,146 shares in the company, valued at $2,982,266.98. This represents a 5.92 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 9.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Willdan Group

Willdan Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional, technical, and consulting services primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Energy, and Engineering and Consulting. The Energy segment offers comprehensive audit and surveys, program design and implementation, master planning, demand reduction, grid optimization, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, measurement and verification services, and software and data analytics, as well as energy consulting and engineering, turnkey facility and infrastructure projects, and customer support services.