Analysts Set Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) PT at $136.50

Shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-six analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, ten have assigned a hold recommendation and fifteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $136.50.

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “positive” rating and set a $147.00 target price on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Tuesday, September 17th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Global Payments from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Global Payments from $143.00 to $130.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 31st. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $145.00 to $135.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price target on Global Payments from $125.00 to $122.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global Payments

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. SYM FINANCIAL Corp grew its stake in Global Payments by 4.1% in the third quarter. SYM FINANCIAL Corp now owns 2,440 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $250,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 1.2% in the third quarter. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,210 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $841,000 after buying an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators increased its stake in Global Payments by 27.2% in the 3rd quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 543 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its stake in Global Payments by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 8,257 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $846,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the period. Finally, Archford Capital Strategies LLC lifted its stake in Global Payments by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Archford Capital Strategies LLC now owns 11,588 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,121,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.76% of the company’s stock.

Global Payments Price Performance

Shares of GPN stock opened at $116.06 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $29.54 billion, a PE ratio of 21.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.93. Global Payments has a 12 month low of $91.60 and a 12 month high of $141.77. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $105.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $103.32.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. Global Payments’s payout ratio is 18.83%.

About Global Payments

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.