Allworth Financial LP Boosts Stock Position in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)

Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in shares of Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) by 12.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,292 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 141 shares during the quarter. Allworth Financial LP’s holdings in Nasdaq were worth $104,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Nasdaq in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Founders Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Nasdaq in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Nasdaq by 106.6% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 436 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. Focused Wealth Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Nasdaq during the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Nasdaq in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.47% of the company’s stock.

Nasdaq Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ NDAQ opened at $79.94 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $79.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.95 billion, a PE ratio of 41.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.99. Nasdaq, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $55.51 and a fifty-two week high of $84.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.99.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.02. Nasdaq had a net margin of 15.10% and a return on equity of 14.82%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Nasdaq, Inc. will post 3.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Nasdaq Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Nasdaq’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $95.00 price target on shares of Nasdaq in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Nasdaq from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $80.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. StockNews.com upgraded Nasdaq from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, December 14th. William Blair started coverage on Nasdaq in a research report on Monday, November 25th. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Nasdaq from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $86.88.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Bryan Everard Smith sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.56, for a total transaction of $285,460.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 55,576 shares in the company, valued at $4,532,778.56. This trade represents a 5.92 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

About Nasdaq

Nasdaq, Inc operates as a technology company that serves capital markets and other industries worldwide. It operates in three segments: Capital Access Platforms, Financial Technology, and Market Services. The Capital Access Platforms segment sells and distributes historical and real-time market data; and develops and licenses Nasdaq-branded indices and financial products.