CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) Shares Sold by Blue Trust Inc.

Blue Trust Inc. reduced its stake in CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME - Free Report) by 56.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,716 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 2,266 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.'s holdings in CME Group were worth $399,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of CME Group by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 7,810 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,723,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC raised its holdings in CME Group by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 1,769 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. increased its position in CME Group by 8.4% during the fourth quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 592 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC increased its position in CME Group by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,362 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Affirmative Financial Network increased its position in CME Group by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 2,141 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $497,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. 87.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Julie Winkler sold 11,592 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.17, for a total value of $2,888,378.64. Following the transaction, the insider now 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 can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on CME. Oppenheimer raised their price target on CME Group from $258.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on CME Group from $250.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays lifted their price objective on CME Group from $257.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup downgraded CME Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on CME Group from $227.00 to $226.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $236.13.

CME Group Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of CME traded down $0.27 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $248.05. 225,095 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,762,286. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $236.87 and a 200-day moving average price of $227.00. The company has a market cap of $89.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.65, a P/E/G ratio of 6.83 and a beta of 0.57. CME Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $190.70 and a 1-year high of $253.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME - Get Free Report) last issued 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 13.62% and a net margin of 57.52%. Research analysts expect that CME Group Inc. will post 10.49 earnings per share for the current year.

CME Group declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, December 5th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 3.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication 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 paid a $1.25 dividend. This is a boost from CME Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.02%. CME Group's payout ratio is 47.57%.

CME Group 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.