StepStone group director sells over $1.2 million in stock By Investing.com

In a recent transaction, StepStone Group Inc. (NASDAQ:STEP) director Steven R. Mitchell sold 27,500 shares of the company’s stock, totaling approximately $1,219,350. The sales were conducted in multiple trades with prices ranging from $44.25 to $44.75, averaging a weighted sales price of $44.34 per share. Following the transaction, Mitchell’s direct ownership in the company dropped to zero shares.

The sale, which took place on June 11, 2024, was disclosed in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The disclosed information indicates that the transaction was not part of a 10b5-1 trading plan, which is a pre-arranged trading plan that allows insiders to sell shares at predetermined times.

StepStone Group, known for its investment advisory services, has seen its stock price fluctuate in recent months, drawing attention from investors who closely monitor insider transactions for insights into company performance and executive sentiment.

Investors and analysts often scrutinize insider sales for potential signals about a company’s future prospects, although it is not uncommon for executives to sell shares for personal financial management reasons, unrelated to their outlook on the company’s future performance.

The regulatory filing provides transparency into the transaction details, as required by securities law, and offers the assurance that further information about the exact number of shares sold at each price point can be provided upon request.

The transaction by Mitchell comes at a time when market watchers are keeping a keen eye on StepStone Group’s financial performance and strategic direction. As with all insider transactions, investors may consider this sale in the context of their own investment strategy and research.

In other recent news, StepStone Group demonstrated strong financial performance in its first-quarter 2024 earnings, with an Adjusted Net Income per Share of $0.33, surpassing both the Bloomberg LP Street consensus of $0.28 and JPMorgan’s estimate of $0.27. This performance was attributed to higher-than-expected fee-related revenues and realized carry, with fee-related revenues reaching $153.4 million and realized carry hitting $18.1 million. The company also reported approximately $6 billion in new funds, split between $4 billion in Separately Managed Accounts and $2 billion in Commingled Funds.

Furthermore, StepStone Group reported solid fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2024, including a GAAP net income of $82.5 million, and net income attributable to the company at $30.8 million, or $0.48 per share. Fee-related earnings increased by 35% year-on-year to $50.9 million, and the company raised $18.6 billion in new assets under management (AUM) commitments. StepStone Group also announced a supplemental cash dividend of $0.15 per share, in addition to its regular quarterly dividend.

JPMorgan has updated its outlook on StepStone Group shares, increasing the price target to $51.00 from $49.00 and maintaining an Overweight rating. This adjustment was made in light of StepStone’s strong earnings and the positive outlook expressed by the company’s management. These are some of the recent developments concerning StepStone Group’s financial performance and market position.

InvestingPro Insights

As StepStone Group Inc. (NASDAQ:STEP) navigates the market, investors who follow insider activity have observed the recent sale of shares by director Steven R. Mitchell with keen interest. To provide a broader context, InvestingPro data and tips offer valuable insights into the company’s current financial standing and potential future performance.

InvestingPro data highlights a striking revenue growth for StepStone Group, with a last twelve months as of Q4 2024 increase of 1153.11%, and a quarterly growth of 107.0% in Q4 2024. This notable expansion in revenue mirrors the company’s dynamic performance in a competitive market. Furthermore, the company’s P/E ratio stands at 49.88, and when adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q4 2024, it moderates slightly to 43.93, allowing investors to gauge the company’s earnings relative to its share price.

One InvestingPro Tip that is particularly relevant given the insider sale is that StepStone Group has been trading near its 52-week high, with the price percentage of the 52-week high at 96.56%. This could indicate a strong market confidence in the stock, possibly reflecting the company’s robust financial metrics and growth prospects. Additionally, the company’s dividend yield stands at 2.66%, coupled with a significant dividend growth of 50.0% over the last twelve months as of Q4 2024, which suggests that StepStone Group is committed to providing shareholder value through consistent dividend payouts.

For those looking to delve deeper into the company’s financials and strategic position, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available, including insights on earnings growth expectations and valuation metrics. To explore these further, investors can visit https://www.investing.com/pro/STEP and use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, unlocking a wealth of data and analysis to inform investment decisions.

Overall, while insider sales such as Mitchell’s can offer a glimpse into individual actions, the comprehensive data and tips from InvestingPro provide a more complete picture of StepStone Group’s financial health and market potential.

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