Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $231.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $246.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. DA Davidson restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $215.00 price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $207.00 to $222.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Wolfe Research restated a "peer perform" rating on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $239.17.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance

Broadridge Financial Solutions stock traded down $1.00 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $235.31. 363,116 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 461,865. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.82 and a beta of 1.08. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a 12 month low of $188.30 and a 12 month high of $244.47. The business's 50-day moving average is $232.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $223.18.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The business services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.24. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 44.40%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.92 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Broadridge Financial Solutions will post 8.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 13th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 13th. Broadridge Financial Solutions's payout ratio is presently 55.09%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In other news, VP Thomas P. Carey sold 15,710 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.32, for a total transaction of $3,618,327.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 12,146 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,797,466.72. This represents a 56.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Brett Keller sold 5,442 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.40, for a total transaction of $1,308,256.80. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 15,536 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,734,854.40. This represents a 25.94 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 21,666 shares of company stock valued at $5,050,766. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Broadridge Financial Solutions

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BR. Bogart Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 384.0% during the third quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 121 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2,028.6% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 149 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC bought a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 246.7% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 156 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gen Wealth Partners Inc bought a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Institutional investors own 90.03% of the company's stock.

About Broadridge Financial Solutions

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.