Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.02 EPS

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.02, Zacks reports. Nasdaq had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 15.10%.

Nasdaq Trading Up 0.1 %

Nasdaq stock traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $82.37. 259,868 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,720,675. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.95. Nasdaq has a 52-week low of $54.90 and a 52-week high of $83.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.98. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $79.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $74.56.

Nasdaq 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 issued a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Nasdaq’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Nasdaq from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Nasdaq from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Nasdaq from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $80.00 to $98.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Nasdaq from $78.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Argus boosted their target price on Nasdaq from $76.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Nasdaq currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $86.88.

Insider Transactions at Nasdaq

In related news, insider Pc Nelson Griggs sold 5,742 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.34, for a total value of $444,086.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 205,821 shares in the company, valued at $15,918,196.14. This trade represents a 2.71 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jeremy Skule sold 12,075 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.75, for a total transaction of $950,906.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 102,505 shares in the company, valued at $8,072,268.75. The trade was a 10.54 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 29,817 shares of company stock valued at $2,330,033. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

About Nasdaq

Nasdaq, Inc operates as a technology company that serves capital markets and other industries worldwide. It operates in three segments: Capital Access Platforms, Financial Technology, and Market Services. The Capital Access Platforms segment sells and distributes historical and real-time market data; and develops and licenses Nasdaq-branded indices and financial products.