Schroder Investment Management Group Has $95.63 Million Stock Holdings in The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU)

Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) by 32.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,021,308 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,194,403 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 2.67% of Western Union worth $95,626,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Western Union by 20.0% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,698,559 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $20,264,000 after buying an additional 283,479 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of Western Union by 19.0% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 523,676 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $6,247,000 after acquiring an additional 83,715 shares during the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC bought a new position in Western Union during the third quarter worth $734,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Western Union by 50.6% during the 4th quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 122,956 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,303,000 after purchasing an additional 41,317 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Range Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Western Union by 828.1% in the 4th quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 93,959 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $996,000 after purchasing an additional 83,835 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.81% of the company’s stock.

Western Union Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE WU opened at $10.48 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $10.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.20. The Western Union Company has a 52-week low of $10.04 and a 52-week high of $13.95. The stock has a market cap of $3.54 billion, a PE ratio of 3.84, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.79.

Western Union (NYSE:WU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.02). Western Union had a return on equity of 96.90% and a net margin of 22.19%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Western Union Company will post 1.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Western Union declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Friday, December 13th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to reacquire up to 27.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Western Union Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a $0.235 dividend. This represents a $0.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.97%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. Western Union’s dividend payout ratio is currently 34.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WU has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Western Union from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. JMP Securities restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Western Union in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Western Union from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $12.11.

Western Union Profile

The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices.