Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR) Cut to "Hold" at StockNews.com

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

BR has been the topic of a number of other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $231.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. DA Davidson restated a "neutral" rating and set a $215.00 price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $246.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wolfe Research reissued a "peer perform" rating on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $207.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $241.00.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BR traded down $0.56 during trading on Thursday, reaching $235.97. 26,186 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 519,554. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $235.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $229.60. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a 52-week low of $188.30 and a 52-week high of $247.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.61 billion, a PE ratio of 36.92 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The business services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.24. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 44.40% and a net margin of 11.36%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.92 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Broadridge Financial Solutions will post 8.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Brett Keller sold 5,442 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.40, for a total transaction of $1,308,256.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 15,536 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,734,854.40. This trade represents a 25.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Laura Matlin sold 514 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.60, for a total transaction of $124,182.40. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,602 shares in the company, valued at $1,595,043.20. This represents a 7.22 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 124,754 shares of company stock worth $29,397,793. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Adero Partners LLC increased its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 1,837 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $415,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Sunburst Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Sunburst Financial Group LLC now owns 1,011 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $229,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,010 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 1,440 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,528 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $345,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.03% of the company's stock.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

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.