Electronic Arts Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NASDAQ:EA)

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA - Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders bought 37,868 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 352% compared to the average daily volume of 8,382 call options.

Insider Buying and Selling at Electronic Arts

In related news, EVP Jacob J. Schatz sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.45, for a total value of $215,175.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,386 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,354,721.70. This trade represents a 6.03 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $147.57, for a total transaction of $147,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 29,216 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,311,405.12. The trade was a 3.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 18,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,454,240. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Electronic Arts

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EA. Putney Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. lifted its stake in Electronic Arts by 141.0% during the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 200 shares of the game software company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. LGT Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. 90.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on EA. Wedbush reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $173.00 price target on shares of Electronic Arts in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Electronic Arts from $130.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Electronic Arts from $145.00 to $142.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Ascendiant Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $157.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $170.00 to $165.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $154.78.

Electronic Arts Trading Up 0.5 %

NASDAQ EA traded up $0.72 during trading on Friday, hitting $143.97. The stock had a trading volume of 1,495,159 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,376,343. The company has a market capitalization of $37.52 billion, a PE ratio of 36.66, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $132.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $144.70. Electronic Arts has a twelve month low of $115.21 and a twelve month high of $168.50.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The game software company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.41 by ($1.07). Electronic Arts had a net margin of 14.28% and a return on equity of 17.80%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Electronic Arts will post 4.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Electronic Arts Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th were given a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 26th. Electronic Arts's dividend payout ratio is presently 19.34%.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc develops, markets, publishes, and distributes games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation primarily under the Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, and license games from others, including FIFA, Madden NFL, UFC, and Star Wars brands.