Commonwealth Equity Services cut its stake in shares of AmTrust Financial Services Inc (NASDAQ:AFSI) by 0.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The hedge fund owned 9,369 shares of the company’s stock after selling 16 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services’ holdings in AmTrust Financial Services were worth $577,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Janus Capital Management bought a new position in shares of AmTrust Financial Services during the third quarter valued at about $3,130,000. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of AmTrust Financial Services by 53.2% in the fourth quarter. Creative Planning now owns 5,736 shares of the company’s stock valued at $353,000 after buying an additional 1,991 shares during the period. Ipswich Investment Management Company bought a new position in shares of AmTrust Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $331,000. Finally, CUE Financial Group increased its position in shares of AmTrust Financial Services by 130.8% in the fourth quarter. CUE Financial Group now owns 11,780 shares of the company’s stock valued at $725,000 after buying an additional 6,675 shares during the period.

Shares of AmTrust Financial Services Inc (NASDAQ:AFSI) opened at 54.49 on Tuesday. AmTrust Financial Services Inc has a one year low of $50.51 and a one year high of $71.87. The company has a market capitalization of $4.52 billion and a PE ratio of 9.44. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $59.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.77. AmTrust Financial Services’s stock is set to split on Wednesday, February 3rd. The 2-1 split was announced on Tuesday, December 15th. The newly created shares will be issued to shareholders after the closing bell on Tuesday, February 2nd.

AmTrust Financial Services (NASDAQ:AFSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 3rd. The company reported $1.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.43. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.70 EPS. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1,000 million. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that AmTrust Financial Services Inc will post $6.05 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 15th. Investors of record on Monday, January 4th were given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 30th.

AFSI has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup Inc. initiated coverage on shares of AmTrust Financial Services in a research report on Thursday, January 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $74.00 price target on the stock. FBR & Co. reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $76.00 price target on shares of AmTrust Financial Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 11th. Compass Point upgraded shares of AmTrust Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $70.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 13th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of AmTrust Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 15th. Finally, William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of AmTrust Financial Services in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, The stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $72.33.

In related news, CFO Ronald E. Pipoly, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.15, for a total value of $120,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 289,914 shares in the company, valued at $17,438,327.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Stephen Ungar sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.13, for a total value of $90,195.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 80,593 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,846,057.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Amtrust Financial Services, Inc. is an insurance holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the Company provides specialty property and casualty insurance focusing on workers’ compensation and commercial package coverage for small business, specialty risk and extended warranty coverage, and property and casualty coverage for middle market business. The Company operates through three segments. The Small Commercial Business segment provides workers’ compensation and commercial package and other property and casualty insurance products. The Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty segment provides coverage for consumer and commercial goods and custom designed coverages, such as accidental damage plans and payment protection plans. The Specialty Program segment provides workers’ compensation, package products, general liability, commercial auto liability, excess and surplus lines programs and other specialty commercial property and casualty insurance.

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