Value Partners Investments Inc. Sells 296,187 Shares of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA)

Value Partners Investments Inc. cut its stake in Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) by 92.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,753 shares of the game software company’s stock after selling 296,187 shares during the period. Electronic Arts comprises about 0.1% of Value Partners Investments Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Value Partners Investments Inc.’s holdings in Electronic Arts were worth $3,768,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EA. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 353.4% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,269,258 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $185,692,000 after buying an additional 989,319 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Electronic Arts by 224.8% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,207,854 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $176,709,000 after purchasing an additional 835,985 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Electronic Arts in the 4th quarter worth approximately $96,698,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Electronic Arts by 591.9% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 696,861 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $101,951,000 after purchasing an additional 596,141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group boosted its stake in shares of Electronic Arts by 100.8% during the fourth quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 801,915 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $117,513,000 after purchasing an additional 402,501 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.23% of the company’s stock.

Electronic Arts Stock Performance

NASDAQ EA opened at $142.93 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.37, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.79. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $136.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $144.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.38. Electronic Arts Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $115.21 and a fifty-two week high of $168.50.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The game software company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.41 by ($1.07). Electronic Arts had a net margin of 14.28% and a return on equity of 17.80%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Electronic Arts Inc. will post 4.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Electronic Arts Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 26th were issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 26th. Electronic Arts’s payout ratio is presently 19.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Laura Miele sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.83, for a total value of $327,075.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 47,514 shares in the company, valued at $6,216,256.62. This represents a 5.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.03, for a total transaction of $122,030.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 28,216 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,443,198.48. This represents a 3.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,000 shares of company stock worth $3,015,990. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on EA shares. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Electronic Arts from $175.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $173.00 price objective on shares of Electronic Arts in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Bank of America lifted their target price on Electronic Arts from $130.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Electronic Arts from $163.00 to $139.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Electronic Arts currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $155.30.

Electronic Arts Company Profile

Electronic Arts Inc develops, markets, publishes, and distributes games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation primarily under the Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, and license games from others, including FIFA, Madden NFL, UFC, and Star Wars brands.