Global Payments Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:GPN)

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Stock traders acquired 4,666 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 76% compared to the typical volume of 2,645 call options.

Global Payments Stock Performance

NYSE:GPN opened at $97.55 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.79, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.97. Global Payments has a fifty-two week low of $90.99 and a fifty-two week high of $133.63. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $103.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.34.

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

Global Payments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. Global Payments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.18%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GPN has been the subject of several recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Global Payments from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. StockNews.com raised shares of Global Payments from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Global Payments from $138.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $156.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $122.00 target price (down from $155.00) on shares of Global Payments in a report on Thursday, January 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.33.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Global Payments during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Global Payments in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Global Payments in the fourth quarter valued at $37,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. purchased a new position in Global Payments in the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in Global Payments during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.