Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $103.5333.

NDAQ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $111.00 price target (up previously from $110.00) on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Barclays set a $115.00 price objective on Nasdaq and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Nasdaq from $96.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Nasdaq from $111.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Wednesday.

Nasdaq Trading Up 1.2%

NASDAQ:NDAQ opened at $100.07 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $57.14 billion, a PE ratio of 35.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.01. Nasdaq has a fifty-two week low of $64.84 and a fifty-two week high of $101.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $92.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $91.86.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.29 billion. Nasdaq had a net margin of 19.90% and a return on equity of 16.28%. Nasdaq’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Nasdaq will post 3.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Nasdaq Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were given a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Nasdaq’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.57%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Nasdaq

In related news, EVP John Zecca sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.01, for a total transaction of $450,045.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 125,674 shares in the company, valued at $12,568,656.74. This trade represents a 3.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeremy Skule sold 2,105 shares of Nasdaq stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.40, for a total value of $179,767.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 84,974 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,256,779.60. The trade was a 2.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 306,605 shares of company stock valued at $29,546,812 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nasdaq

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Front Row Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Nasdaq during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nasdaq during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Nasdaq by 72.7% during the second quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 285 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Tripletail Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nasdaq in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Nasdaq in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. 72.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Nasdaq Company Profile

Nasdaq, Inc is a global financial technology company that operates one of the world’s leading electronic securities exchanges and provides a broad array of products and services to capital markets participants. Its core activities include operating the Nasdaq Stock Market and other trading venues, developing and supplying market technology and matching engines to exchanges and trading firms, licensing market data and indices, and offering clearing, trade execution and post-trade solutions. The company also provides market surveillance, risk management and regulatory technology used by exchanges and regulators.

Founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) as the first electronic stock market, Nasdaq has evolved into a diversified marketplace and technology provider.