Sterling Capital Management LLC Increases Position in Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA)

Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) by 53.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,720 shares of the game software company’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,453 shares during the quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Electronic Arts were worth $2,300,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Claro Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Electronic Arts by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 2,285 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Intrust Bank NA raised its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 2,475 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $362,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 812 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $119,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in Electronic Arts by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 3,761 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $550,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Electronic Arts by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,837 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $708,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.23% of the company’s stock.

Electronic Arts Stock Up 2.5 %

Shares of Electronic Arts stock opened at $142.93 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.38. Electronic Arts Inc. has a 1-year low of $115.21 and a 1-year high of $168.50. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $136.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $144.34. The company 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.

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

Electronic Arts Announces Dividend

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

Insider Activity at Electronic Arts

In other news, CEO Andrew Wilson sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.68, for a total transaction of $713,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 42,615 shares in the company, valued at $6,080,308.20. This represents a 10.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jacob J. Schatz sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.45, for a total value of $215,175.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,386 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,354,721.70. This represents a 6.03 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 22,000 shares of company stock worth $3,015,990. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on EA shares. Benchmark increased their price objective on Electronic Arts from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Electronic Arts from $163.00 to $139.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. DA Davidson started coverage on shares of Electronic Arts in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Roth Mkm lowered their price target on Electronic Arts from $158.00 to $134.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Electronic Arts from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $155.30.

Electronic Arts 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.