Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) Receives $134.33 Consensus PT from Analysts

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) has earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-six brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $134.33.

GPN has been the topic of several analyst reports. Bank of America dropped their target price on Global Payments from $156.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Barclays dropped their target price on Global Payments from $135.00 to $125.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Global Payments from $138.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Stephens downgraded Global Payments from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $125.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Global Payments from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd.

Global Payments Stock Performance

Shares of Global Payments stock opened at $97.03 on Friday. Global Payments has a one year low of $90.99 and a one year high of $136.36. The firm has a market cap of $23.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $104.65 and its 200-day moving average is $107.68.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.98 by ($0.14). Global Payments had a return on equity of 12.21% and a net margin of 15.54%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.31 billion. Equities analysts predict that Global Payments will post 11.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global Payments

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the fourth quarter worth approximately $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.76% of the company’s stock.

About Global Payments

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.