Institutional investors increase holdings in a regional bank as stock charts and reports highlight the move.
Westerly, Rhode Island, August 31, 2025
An institutional investor established a significant new position in Washington Trust Bancorp, purchasing 95,410 shares valued at roughly $2.94 million and representing about 0.49% of the company. The move comes alongside other large managers increasing exposure—Vanguard, Invesco, Dimensional, Millennium and The Manufacturers Life all added shares—bringing institutional ownership to about 65.81%. Analysts remain mixed with a consensus Hold and a $29 average target. The bank beat recent EPS and revenue estimates and pays a high-yield quarterly dividend, making upcoming results and further institutional flows key drivers for the stock.
Institutional buying and analyst moves are shaping the story around Washington Trust Bancorp (NASDAQ:WASH).
The top development is a new stake taken by Nuveen LLC, which purchased 95,410 shares during the first quarter.
That block was valued at about $2,944,000 and represented roughly 0.49% of the company at quarter end.
Several large funds also adjusted positions in recent quarters. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake by 8.3% and now holds 1,119,395 shares valued near $34,545,000 after adding 86,062 shares.
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holding to 932,056 shares after a 6.7% lift, valuing its stake at about $29,220,000 following an additional 58,176 shares.
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company made a large move in the fourth quarter, adding 397,255 shares and ending the period with 403,749 shares, a move described as a 6,117.3% increase and a position worth about $12,658,000.
Invesco Ltd. grew its stake by 39.3% to 295,462 shares worth roughly $9,118,000.
Millennium Management LLC also expanded sharply in the fourth quarter to 226,355 shares, a large percentage increase from a lower base, valuing that holding at about $7,096,000.
Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds own about 65.81% of the stock.
Coverage changes have been mixed. A bank began coverage with a neutral stance and a $28.00 price target.
Another research firm lowered its rating from neutral to underweight while keeping a $28.00 target.
Across tracked analysts, the stock has one Strong Buy rating, two Hold ratings, and one Sell rating, producing an average rating of Hold and an average target price near $29.00.
Shares opened at $30.30 on the referenced Friday. The 1-year trading range runs from a low of $24.95 to a high of $40.59.
Market capitalization stands near $580.55 million.
Key valuation and market measures include a P/E ratio of -20.07, a PEG ratio of 0.87, and a beta of 0.91.
The 50-day and 200-day moving averages sit around $28.45 and $28.88, respectively.
The company last reported results for the quarter ending in July. Reported earnings were $0.68 per share, beating consensus by about $0.05.
Revenue for the quarter was roughly $54.26 million, slightly above the expected $54.07 million.
Return on equity was positive at 9.05%, while the company reported a negative net margin of -6.10%.
Analysts on average expect about 2.76 earnings per share for the full fiscal year.
The company paid a quarterly dividend on July 11. Shareholders of record on July 1 received a payment of $0.56, which annualizes to $2.24.
That produces a yield near 7.4%. The reported dividend payout ratio is listed as -148.34%, reflecting the company’s current earnings and accounting mix.
Washington Trust Bancorp operates as the holding company for a regional bank and runs two main segments: Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services.
Commercial Banking products include deposit accounts (demand, savings, money market, time deposits) and a range of lending options such as commercial real estate, construction and development loans, commercial and industrial loans, residential mortgages and construction loans, and consumer loans including home equity and personal installment loans.
The instant alert and data were prepared using automated narrative tools and market data providers.
The release noted that prices are updated frequently and that certain market data may be delayed. The report included contact details and a standard copyright notice and advised the material is for information only and not trading advice.
A: Nuveen LLC purchased 95,410 shares in the first quarter, a position valued at about $2,944,000, representing roughly 0.49% of the company at quarter-end.
A: Notable moves include increases by Vanguard, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Invesco, Millennium Management, and a large fourth-quarter increase by the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company.
A: The most recent quarter showed $0.68 EPS on about $54.26 million in revenue, a return on equity near 9.05%, and a negative net margin of -6.10%. Analysts expect about 2.76 EPS for the year.
A: Yes. A quarterly dividend of $0.56 was paid in July, which annualizes to $2.24 and implies a yield of roughly 7.4% based on recent prices.
A: The mix of ratings includes one Strong Buy, two Hold, and one Sell, creating an average consensus rating of Hold and an average target price near $29.00. Recent coverage changes included a neutral start and a downgrade to underweight by different research firms.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Nuveen purchase | 95,410 shares (~$2,944,000) |
| Institutional ownership | 65.81% |
| Market cap | $580.55 million |
| Latest EPS (quarter) | $0.68 |
| Latest revenue (quarter) | $54.26 million |
| Analyst consensus | Hold; avg target $29.00 |
| Dividend | $0.56 quarterly ($2.24 annualized); yield ~7.4% |
| P/E ratio | -20.07 |
| PEG | 0.87 |
| Debt-to-equity | 1.94 |
| 1-year range | $24.95 – $40.59 |
| 50-day / 200-day MA | $28.45 / $28.88 |
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