Gateway Investment Advisers LLC lessened its stake in Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK – Get Rating) by 9.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,470 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 269 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in Verisk Analytics were worth $428,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. HighTower Trust Services LTA increased its holdings in Verisk Analytics by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Trust Services LTA now owns 15,949 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,423,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Callahan Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Verisk Analytics by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Callahan Advisors LLC now owns 14,526 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,118,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP increased its holdings in Verisk Analytics by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP now owns 2,096 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $448,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Bank increased its holdings in Verisk Analytics by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 6,372 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,367,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. increased its holdings in Verisk Analytics by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 3,189 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $685,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on VRSK. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Verisk Analytics from $227.00 to $210.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 29th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Verisk Analytics from $215.00 to $220.00 in a report on Thursday, August 4th. StockNews.com downgraded Verisk Analytics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, August 11th. Raymond James reduced their target price on Verisk Analytics from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Verisk Analytics from $186.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Thursday, August 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $216.18.

Verisk Analytics Stock Performance

Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 2nd. The business services provider reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.12. Verisk Analytics had a return on equity of 35.21% and a net margin of 34.37%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.17 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Verisk Analytics, Inc. will post 5.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verisk Analytics Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 15th will be given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 14th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. Verisk Analytics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.14%.

Insider Activity at Verisk Analytics

In related news, EVP Kathy Card Beckles sold 429 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.09, for a total value of $85,838.61. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,102 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,220,949.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Therese M. Vaughan sold 629 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.22, for a total transaction of $125,309.38. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,064 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,204,170.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Kathy Card Beckles sold 429 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.09, for a total value of $85,838.61. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,102 shares in the company, valued at $1,220,949.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 4,648 shares of company stock valued at $933,186. 1.78% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Verisk Analytics

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Verisk Analytics, Inc provides data analytics solutions in the United States and internationally. The company provides predictive analytics and decision support solutions to customers in rating, underwriting, claims, catastrophe and weather risk, global risk analytics, natural resources intelligence, economic forecasting, commercial banking and finance, and various other fields.

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