Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the nine research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, five have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $125.86.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on EEFT shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Euronet Worldwide from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 22nd. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Euronet Worldwide in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Euronet Worldwide from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on Euronet Worldwide from $135.00 to $128.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Euronet Worldwide in a research report on Thursday, December 12th.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Michael J. Brown sold 95,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.69, for a total value of $9,565,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,418,966 shares in the company, valued at approximately $142,875,686.54. This trade represents a 6.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 10.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Euronet Worldwide

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EEFT. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Euronet Worldwide in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Euronet Worldwide in the 4th quarter worth about $58,000. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Euronet Worldwide by 40.9% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 713 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd boosted its position in shares of Euronet Worldwide by 15,240.0% during the 4th quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 767 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $79,000 after acquiring an additional 762 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of Euronet Worldwide by 485.6% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 855 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 709 shares in the last quarter. 91.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Euronet Worldwide Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:EEFT opened at $108.55 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.75 billion, a PE ratio of 16.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.37. Euronet Worldwide has a 1 year low of $91.07 and a 1 year high of $117.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.26. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $101.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $101.18.

Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ:EEFT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($0.23). Euronet Worldwide had a return on equity of 27.74% and a net margin of 7.69%. Analysts forecast that Euronet Worldwide will post 9.11 earnings per share for the current year.

About Euronet Worldwide

Euronet Worldwide, Inc provides payment and transaction processing and distribution solutions to financial institutions, retailers, service providers, and individual consumers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Electronic Fund Transfer Processing, epay, and Money Transfer. The Electronic Fund Transfer Processing segment provides electronic payment solutions, including automated teller machine (ATM) cash withdrawal and deposit services, ATM network participation, outsourced ATM and point-of-sale (POS) management solutions, credit and debit and prepaid card outsourcing, card issuing, and merchant acquiring services.