Barclays PLC Acquires 39,846 Shares of Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL)

Barclays PLC grew its holdings in Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL - Free Report) by 16.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 287,993 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 39,846 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 0.34% of Globe Life worth $32,116,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in shares of Globe Life by 12.5% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 754 shares of the company's stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Globe Life by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,271 shares of the company's stock worth $276,000 after buying an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. raised its position in shares of Globe Life by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 2,293 shares of the company's stock worth $256,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Globe Life by 32.7% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 365 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, New Mexico Educational Retirement Board lifted its holdings in shares of Globe Life by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 4,233 shares of the company's stock valued at $472,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the company's stock.

Globe Life Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GL traded up $1.39 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $124.18. 115,578 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,019,687. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.05 and a quick ratio of 0.05. The company's 50 day moving average is $124.13 and its 200 day moving average is $116.00. Globe Life Inc. has a one year low of $71.50 and a one year high of $133.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.34 billion, a PE ratio of 10.38 and a beta of 0.60.

Globe Life (NYSE:GL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $3.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.12 by $0.02. Globe Life had a net margin of 18.53% and a return on equity of 22.32%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Globe Life Inc. will post 13.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Globe Life Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. This is an increase from Globe Life's previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 3rd. Globe Life's dividend payout ratio is 9.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on GL. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Globe Life from $137.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Globe Life in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Globe Life from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Globe Life from $126.00 to $117.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Globe Life from $141.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Globe Life presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $137.55.

Insider Activity at Globe Life

In related news, CEO James Matthew Darden sold 24,890 shares of Globe Life stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.52, for a total transaction of $3,024,632.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 38,973 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,735,998.96. The trade was a 38.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Frank M. Svoboda sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.31, for a total transaction of $1,345,410.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 18,948 shares in the company, valued at $2,317,529.88. This trade represents a 36.73 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.51% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Globe Life

Globe Life Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various life and supplemental health insurance products, and annuities to lower middle- and middle-income families in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, Annuities, and Investments.