Franklin Resources Inc. Increases Stock Position in JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD)

Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) by 5,292.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 705,921 shares of the information services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 692,831 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in JD.com were worth $24,474,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in JD. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG lifted its stake in JD.com by 17.1% during the 4th quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG now owns 13,262 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $460,000 after acquiring an additional 1,935 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of JD.com during the fourth quarter worth about $1,341,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of JD.com by 41.0% in the fourth quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 293,745 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $10,184,000 after purchasing an additional 85,454 shares during the period. Allianz SE acquired a new position in shares of JD.com in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Finally, Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. increased its stake in JD.com by 41.1% during the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 3,604 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.98% of the company’s stock.

JD.com Stock Performance

NASDAQ JD opened at $36.81 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $41.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.02. The company has a market capitalization of $58.05 billion, a PE ratio of 11.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 0.53. JD.com, Inc. has a 1 year low of $24.13 and a 1 year high of $47.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.90.

JD.com Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 8th. This is an increase from JD.com’s previous annual dividend of $0.74. JD.com’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.13%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on JD shares. Benchmark raised their price target on shares of JD.com from $47.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Susquehanna reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $45.00 target price (up from $35.00) on shares of JD.com in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Mizuho increased their price target on JD.com from $43.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on JD.com from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of JD.com from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $46.62.

About JD.com

JD.com, Inc operates as a supply chain-based technology and service provider in the People's Republic of China. The company offers computers, communication, and consumer electronics products, as well as home appliances; and general merchandise products comprising food, beverage and fresh produce, baby and maternity products, furniture and household goods, cosmetics and other personal care items, pharmaceutical and healthcare products, industrial products, books, automobile accessories, apparel and footwear, bags, and jewelry.