Julie A. Brown, a director at Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSBC), recently executed a significant transaction involving the company's common stock. On November 19, Brown sold 2,500 shares at a price of $61.05 per share, resulting in a total transaction value of $152,625.
In addition to the sale, Brown also acquired shares through option exercises on the same day. She acquired 1,000 shares at $41.30 each and an additional 1,500 shares at $41.74 each. The total value of these acquisitions was $103,910.
Following these transactions, Brown holds 32,896 shares directly. The transactions were reported in a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"In other recent news, Great Southern Bancorp posted strong Q3 2024 results, with earnings of $1.41 per diluted share and a net income of $16.5 million, an increase from $1.33 per share in the same quarter last year. The bank's assets have now surpassed $6 billion, with net interest income rising 2.6% to $48 million. Despite these positive outcomes, Piper Sandler adjusted its outlook on Great Southern Bancorp, reducing the price target to $62 from $64 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The firm's analyst cited an improved margin outlook, slightly stronger loan growth, and lower expenses for the updated model. However, they noted the removal of share repurchases from the forecast for the coming quarters, anticipating that the bank will prioritize retaining capital and liquidity. As a result of these adjustments, Piper Sandler raised its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Great Southern Bancorp for the years 2024 and 2025. Despite the improved earnings outlook, the price target was lowered due to lower multiples among Midwestern peer banks. Great Southern Bank's management remains focused on controlling costs and navigating a competitive deposit environment. They expect the effective tax rate to remain around 18.0% to 20.0%."
InvestingPro Insights
The recent insider activity at Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSBC) comes at a time when the company's financial metrics present a mixed picture. According to InvestingPro data, GSBC's market capitalization stands at $717.76 million, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.95, indicating a relatively modest valuation compared to industry peers.
One of the standout features of GSBC is its commitment to shareholder returns. An InvestingPro Tip highlights that the company has maintained dividend payments for 35 consecutive years, a testament to its financial stability and shareholder-friendly policies. This long-standing dividend history aligns with the current dividend yield of 2.59%, which may be attractive to income-focused investors.
Despite the recent insider sale by Director Julie A. Brown, there are positive signals for the company's future performance. Another InvestingPro Tip reveals that two analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting potential optimism about GSBC's near-term prospects. This upward revision could be particularly significant given the company's current profitability, as indicated by its positive earnings over the last twelve months.
It's worth noting that GSBC's revenue for the last twelve months was $214.73 million, with an operating income margin of 36.77%. However, the company has experienced a revenue decline of 8.49% over the same period, which investors may want to monitor closely.
For those interested in a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights that could provide a deeper understanding of GSBC's financial health and market position. In fact, InvestingPro has 13 more tips available for Great Southern Bancorp, which could be valuable for investors considering the stock in light of recent insider transactions and market performance.
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