CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) Receives $229.27 Average Target Price from Analysts

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” from the fifteen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $229.27.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on CME Group from $250.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of CME Group from $227.00 to $226.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of CME Group from $210.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $235.00 price target on shares of CME Group in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of CME Group from $260.00 to $256.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CME. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in CME Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its holdings in shares of CME Group by 570.6% during the fourth quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 114 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of CME Group by 188.4% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 124 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in CME Group during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC bought a new stake in CME Group during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors own 87.75% of the company’s stock.

CME Group Stock Down 1.2 %

CME Group stock opened at $241.81 on Friday. CME Group has a fifty-two week low of $190.70 and a fifty-two week high of $249.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.14 billion, a PE ratio of 25.43, a P/E/G ratio of 5.54 and a beta of 0.57. The company’s 50-day moving average is $235.48 and its 200-day moving average is $224.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02.

CME Group announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, December 5th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 3.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

CME Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.07%. This is an increase from CME Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. CME Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 52.58%.

CME Group Company Profile

CME Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates contract markets for the trading of futures and options on futures contracts worldwide. It offers futures and options products based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, agricultural commodities, energy, and metals, as well as fixed income and foreign currency trading services.