Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-six ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eleven have given a hold recommendation and fourteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $134.33.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on GPN shares. StockNews.com raised shares of Global Payments from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Stephens lowered shares of Global Payments from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $125.00 to $120.00 in a report on Friday, January 10th. Barclays cut their price target on Global Payments from $135.00 to $125.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $122.00 price objective (down previously from $155.00) on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Global Payments from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th.

Global Payments Stock Up 2.2 %

Shares of NYSE:GPN opened at $105.51 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $109.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $109.01. Global Payments has a 52-week low of $91.60 and a 52-week high of $140.38.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.98 by ($0.14). Global Payments had a return on equity of 12.21% and a net margin of 15.54%. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.31 billion. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Global Payments will post 11.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Global Payments Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.95%. Global Payments’s payout ratio is 16.18%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Robert H. B. Baldwin, Jr. purchased 5,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $116.00 per share, with a total value of $672,800.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 42,738 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,957,608. This trade represents a 15.70 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.98% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cromwell Holdings LLC bought a new stake in Global Payments during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Global Payments in the third quarter worth $25,000. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new stake in shares of Global Payments in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Global Payments during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Global Payments during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. 89.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Global Payments Company Profile

Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through two segments, Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.