Inceptionr LLC Takes $328,000 Position in The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU)

Inceptionr LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 30,912 shares of the credit services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $328,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Western Union during the 4th quarter worth approximately $705,000. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new position in Western Union during the fourth quarter worth about $186,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Western Union by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 12,489,079 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $132,384,000 after buying an additional 549,931 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Western Union during the fourth quarter worth $192,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in Western Union by 171.5% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 17,777 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $188,000 after acquiring an additional 11,229 shares in the last quarter. 91.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Western Union Stock Up 5.0 %

Shares of WU opened at $11.62 on Monday. The Western Union Company has a fifty-two week low of $10.04 and a fifty-two week high of $14.19. The company’s fifty day moving average is $10.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.08. The firm has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 4.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04.

Western Union (NYSE:WU) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.42 by ($0.02). Western Union had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 96.90%. Analysts forecast that The Western Union Company will post 1.79 earnings per share for the current year.

Western Union declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Friday, December 13th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to purchase up to 27.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Western Union Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.235 per share. This represents a $0.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.09%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. Western Union’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on WU. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Western Union from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Western Union from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Western Union in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $12.11.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices.