Stewart price target raised to $81 from $79 at Stephens

Stephens raised the firm’s price target on Stewart to $81 from $79 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. Q2 EPS fell short of expectations, but the firm notes that most of the profit miss stemmed from a temporary onboarding cost ramp due to the continued success in the company’s “often underappreciated” Real Estate Solutions business. The firm continues to “place little focus on the here and now,” as the trough-like market conditions are likely to soon fade and the firm likes and “fully understands” the company’s decision to stay the course with its strategic investments although it mutes margins in the near-term.