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 investors moved more stock into and around Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:WASH) during recent reporting periods, with one large fund taking a new position and several others expanding theirs. The largest immediate development is a new purchase by Nuveen LLC of 95,410 shares, a stake valued at roughly $2.94 million that represented about 0.49% of the company at quarter end.
The Nuveen buy joins a broader pattern of institutional interest. Vanguard Group increased its stake by 8.3% to own 1,119,395 shares, worth about $34.55 million. Dimensional Fund Advisors grew its position to 932,056 shares after a 6.7% increase. Several other firms made large moves: one insurer expanded its holding dramatically to 403,749 shares after a large increase, Invesco added to reach 295,462 shares, and Millennium Management boosted its stake to 226,355 shares following a sharp increase. Altogether, institutional investors and hedge funds hold roughly 65.81% of the company’s stock.
Shares opened at $30.30 on the most recent Friday referenced in filings. The company’s market value is about $580.55 million. Over the past year the stock has traded between a low of $24.95 and a high of $40.59. Short- and long-term moving averages sit near the high $20s, with the 50-day at $28.45 and the 200-day at $28.88.
The bank holding company last reported quarterly results that showed earnings of $0.68 per share, ahead of the consensus by about $0.05, and revenue near $54.26 million. Return on equity was 9.05%, while net margin was negative at -6.10%. On average, analysts expect the company to report roughly 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The firm paid a quarterly dividend of $0.56, equivalent to an annualized $2.24, which gives a dividend yield of about 7.4% based on the referenced figures. The company’s payout ratio is currently negative, reported at -148.34%, reflecting recent earnings and accounting results. Price-to-earnings figures show a negative P/E at about -20.07 and a PEG of 0.87.
Analyst coverage is mixed. One analyst assigns a Strong Buy view, two maintain Hold ratings, and one gives a Sell recommendation. Recent firm-level action included a new neutral coverage start with a price target near the high $20s, while another research firm trimmed its rating to underweight and left a similar target. The average analyst target is roughly $29.00, translating into mixed short-term expectations.
The company operates as the bank holding company for a regional bank and delivers banking and wealth services to individuals and firms. Its main areas include Commercial Banking—offering deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, and various real estate and business lending products—and Wealth Management Services.
The recent institutional moves show renewed interest from several large investors, while analyst opinion remains split. The dividend yield is high by current measures, but profitability and some valuation metrics are uneven. Investors and observers will likely watch upcoming quarters for clearer signs of earnings stability and balance-sheet trends.
A: A range of institutional investors adjusted holdings. Notable moves include a new position by Nuveen LLC and share increases by Vanguard Group, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Invesco, and others.
A: Nuveen bought 95,410 shares, valued at about $2.94 million, representing roughly 0.49% of outstanding shares at quarter end.
A: The latest quarter showed $0.68 per share in earnings and roughly $54.26 million in revenue, slightly above analyst expectations for the period.
A: Yes. The company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.56, equal to an annualized $2.24 and a yield around 7.4% based on the referenced price.
A: Opinions are mixed: one Strong Buy, two Hold ratings, one Sell, and an average target near $29.00, producing a consensus view close to Hold.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nuveen purchase | 95,410 shares (~$2.94M; ~0.49% of company) |
| Major institutional holdings | Vanguard 1,119,395; Dimensional 932,056; Invesco 295,462; Millennium 226,355; Insurer 403,749 |
| Market cap | $580.55 million |
| Recent open price | $30.30 |
| 52-week range | $24.95 – $40.59 |
| Dividend | $0.56 quarterly; $2.24 annualized; ~7.4% yield |
| Earnings (latest quarter) | $0.68 per share; revenue $54.26M |
| P/E and PEG | P/E -20.07; PEG 0.87 |
| Institutional ownership | ~65.81% |
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