Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. Decreases Holdings in Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA)

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) by 11.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,870 shares of the game software company’s stock after selling 490 shares during the period. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Electronic Arts were worth $566,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Electronic Arts by 31.8% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 290 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC grew its position 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 worth $334,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,572 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $225,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 3,761 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $550,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Electronic Arts by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,837 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $708,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. 90.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Electronic Arts Stock Up 2.7 %

EA stock opened at $132.09 on Tuesday. Electronic Arts Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $115.21 and a fifty-two week high of $168.50. The business’s 50-day moving average is $143.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $147.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.38. The company has a market cap of $34.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.79.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) last posted its earnings results 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%. As a group, analysts forecast that Electronic Arts Inc. will post 4.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Electronic Arts Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th will be paid a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 26th. Electronic Arts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.34%.

Insider Transactions at Electronic Arts

In related news, EVP Jacob J. Schatz sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.30, for a total transaction of $244,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,360 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,814,688. This trade represents a 6.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.45, for a total value of $164,450.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 30,216 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,969,021.20. This represents a 3.20 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 26,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,889,585 over the last quarter. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James lowered Electronic Arts from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Citigroup dropped their price target on Electronic Arts from $163.00 to $139.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Electronic Arts from $145.00 to $142.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Benchmark dropped their price target on Electronic Arts from $163.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Argus lifted their price target on Electronic Arts from $161.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $155.24.

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.