Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESQ - Get Free Report) Director Joseph Melohn sold 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.15, for a total value of $237,450.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,683 shares in the company, valued at approximately $291,509.45. This trade represents a 44.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Shares of Esquire Financial stock traded down $1.43 on Thursday, reaching $77.50. The company's stock had a trading volume of 106,606 shares, compared to its average volume of 35,057. Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $44.45 and a 52-week high of $80.89. The company has a market capitalization of $644.88 million, a P/E ratio of 15.59 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $72.16 and a 200-day moving average price of $61.29.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. Esquire Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.07%.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ESQ. Piper Sandler reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $75.00 price target (up from $72.00) on shares of Esquire Financial in a report on Friday, October 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Esquire Financial from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th.

Read Our Latest Report on ESQ

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Esquire Financial in the second quarter valued at approximately $954,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Esquire Financial by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 45,589 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,170,000 after purchasing an additional 4,686 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Esquire Financial by 355.1% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,023 shares of the company's stock worth $191,000 after purchasing an additional 3,139 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new stake in shares of Esquire Financial during the second quarter worth $91,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Esquire Financial by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 11,236 shares of the company's stock worth $535,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares during the last quarter. 54.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association that provides commercial banking products and services to legal industry and small businesses, and commercial and retail customers in the United States. The company offers checking, savings, money market, and time deposits, as well as certificates of deposit.

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