Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. Boosts Stock Position in Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN)

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) by 8.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 397,816 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 31,124 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. owned about 0.16% of Global Payments worth $44,786,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Global Payments during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Global Payments during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Global Payments in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. LRI Investments LLC grew its stake in Global Payments by 94.4% during the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 517 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 251 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its position in Global Payments by 177.5% during the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 469 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 89.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Global Payments Stock Performance

NYSE GPN opened at $97.55 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.79, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.04. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $103.72 and a 200 day moving average of $107.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Global Payments Inc. has a twelve month low of $90.99 and a twelve month high of $133.63.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) last announced its earnings results 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). The business had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.31 billion. Global Payments had a net margin of 15.54% and a return on equity of 12.21%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Global Payments Inc. will post 11.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. Global Payments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on GPN. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Global Payments from $166.00 to $163.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $122.00 price target (down previously from $155.00) on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $156.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. StockNews.com raised Global Payments from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Stephens lowered Global Payments from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $125.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Friday, January 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Global Payments presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $134.33.

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.