Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Decreases Stock Position in WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership decreased its stake in shares of WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE:WNS) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,049,763 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 69,067 shares during the quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership’s holdings in WNS were worth $97,138,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of WNS by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,898,543 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $258,202,000 after buying an additional 99,195 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in shares of WNS by 26.7% during the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 1,483,569 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $70,307,000 after purchasing an additional 312,519 shares during the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of WNS by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,112,743 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $52,733,000 after purchasing an additional 53,433 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of WNS by 40.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 743,343 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $39,182,000 after purchasing an additional 214,417 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of WNS by 27.1% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 415,556 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $19,693,000 after purchasing an additional 88,698 shares during the period. 97.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

WNS Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WNS opened at $64.26 on Friday. WNS has a 52 week low of $39.85 and a 52 week high of $65.26. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $59.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.01. The company has a market cap of $2.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.47, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

WNS (NYSE:WNS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.15). WNS had a net margin of 10.03% and a return on equity of 22.25%. Research analysts predict that WNS will post 3.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on WNS shares. Barrington Research lifted their price target on WNS from $63.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of WNS from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of WNS from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of WNS from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on WNS from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, WNS has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $62.25.

WNS Profile

WNS (Holdings) Limited, a business process management (BPM) company, provides data, voice, analytical, and business transformation services worldwide. The company operates through TSLU, MRHP, HCLS, and BFSI segments. It engages in diversified business, including manufacturing, retail, consumer packaged goods, media and entertainment, and telecommunication; travel and leisure, utilities, shipping, and logistics; healthcare and life sciences; banking, financial services, and insurance; and Hi-tech and professional services, as well as procurement.