Guidewire Software Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:GWRE)

Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Traders acquired 1,297 call options on the company. This is an increase of 1,563% compared to the average daily volume of 78 call options.

Guidewire Software Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE GWRE opened at $192.68 on Thursday. Guidewire Software has a one year low of $107.00 and a one year high of $219.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 2.66 and a current ratio of 2.66. The company has a market capitalization of $16.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 535.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 37.21 and a beta of 1.31. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $199.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $189.10.

Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 6th. The technology company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($0.44). The business had revenue of $289.48 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $285.74 million. Guidewire Software had a return on equity of 2.38% and a net margin of 2.91%. Equities analysts forecast that Guidewire Software will post 0.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Guidewire Software

In related news, CEO Michael George Rosenbaum sold 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.68, for a total value of $300,552.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 274,730 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $58,979,036.40. This trade represents a 0.51 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President John P. Mullen sold 6,116 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.41, for a total value of $1,158,431.56. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 166,330 shares in the company, valued at $31,504,565.30. The trade was a 3.55 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 38,580 shares of company stock valued at $7,417,937. 0.48% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Guidewire Software

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Guidewire Software by 70.0% in the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 170 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Guidewire Software by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 44,185 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $7,449,000 after acquiring an additional 1,282 shares in the last quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC purchased a new position in Guidewire Software in the fourth quarter worth $210,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp acquired a new position in shares of Guidewire Software during the fourth quarter worth $11,827,000. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Guidewire Software by 31.6% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,455 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Guidewire Software in a research report on Friday, March 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Guidewire Software from $210.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $210.00 price objective on shares of Guidewire Software in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $231.00 price target on shares of Guidewire Software in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Guidewire Software from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $206.08.

Guidewire Software Company Profile

Guidewire Software, Inc provides a platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurers worldwide. The company offers Guidewire InsuranceSuite Cloud, such as PolicyCenter Cloud, BillingCenter Cloud, and ClaimCenter Cloud applications. It also provides Guidewire InsuranceNow, a cloud-based platform that offers policy, billing, and claims management functionality to insurers; and Guidewire InsuranceSuite for Self-Managed.