Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Has $45.20 Million Stake in CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME)

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC decreased its holdings in shares of CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME - Free Report) by 1.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 194,235 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 3,336 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned about 0.05% of CME Group worth $45,202,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CME Group by 570.6% in the fourth quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 114 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in CME Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of CME Group by 188.4% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 124 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in CME Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in CME Group by 120.3% during the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 152 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.75% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other CME Group news, insider Julie Winkler sold 11,592 shares of CME Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.17, for a total transaction of $2,888,378.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 21,885 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,453,085.45. The trade was a 34.63 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

CME Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ CME traded up $1.72 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $247.20. 410,293 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,818,554. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.02. The stock has a market cap of $89.08 billion, a PE ratio of 25.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.54 and a beta of 0.57. The company's fifty day moving average is $236.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $226.35. CME Group Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $190.70 and a fifty-two week high of $253.53.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The financial services provider reported $2.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.06. CME Group had a return on equity of 13.39% and a net margin of 57.34%. On average, analysts expect that CME Group Inc. will post 10.18 earnings per share for the current year.

CME Group announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 3.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

CME Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 26th. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.02%. This is a boost from CME Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. CME Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.37%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on CME shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of CME Group from $227.00 to $226.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on CME Group from $258.00 to $269.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on CME Group from $209.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup cut CME Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $255.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on CME Group from $235.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CME Group currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $234.13.

CME Group Company Profile

CME Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates contract markets for the trading of futures and options on futures contracts worldwide. It offers futures and options products based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, agricultural commodities, energy, and metals, as well as fixed income and foreign currency trading services.