Geode Capital Management LLC Buys 6,025 Shares of Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ)

Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ) by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 182,259 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,025 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Esquire Financial were worth $11,887,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Esquire Financial by 21.7% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 122,222 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,818,000 after purchasing an additional 21,833 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in shares of Esquire Financial during the second quarter worth about $926,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Esquire Financial by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 202,847 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,655,000 after acquiring an additional 17,333 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Esquire Financial by 79.8% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 36,058 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,351,000 after purchasing an additional 16,007 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Esquire Financial in the 2nd quarter worth $570,000. Institutional investors own 54.66% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on ESQ shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Esquire Financial from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $75.00 price objective (up previously from $72.00) on shares of Esquire Financial in a research note on Friday, October 25th.

Insider Transactions at Esquire Financial

In related news, Director Joseph Melohn sold 3,000 shares of Esquire Financial stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.15, for a total transaction of $237,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,683 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $291,509.45. This trade represents a 44.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Selig Zises sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.77, for a total value of $614,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 62,601 shares in the company, valued at $4,805,878.77. The trade was a 11.33 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 18.90% of the company’s stock.

Esquire Financial Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ESQ opened at $79.50 on Wednesday. Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $44.45 and a one year high of $81.68. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $74.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $63.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $661.52 million, a P/E ratio of 16.00 and a beta of 0.74.

Esquire Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. Esquire Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.07%.

About Esquire Financial

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association that provides commercial banking products and services to legal industry and small businesses, and commercial and retail customers in the United States. The company offers checking, savings, money market, and time deposits, as well as certificates of deposit.