Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) Stock Holdings Increased by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN - Free Report) by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,499,729 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 83,481 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 2.16% of Global Payments worth $564,437,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Cromwell Holdings LLC acquired a new position in Global Payments in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. POM Investment Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Global Payments in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Global Payments in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Global Payments by 59.6% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 383 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 134.4% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 511 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares during the last quarter. 89.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Global Payments Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE GPN traded down $1.31 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $114.21. 1,156,033 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,263,353. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.93. Global Payments Inc. has a 52-week low of $91.60 and a 52-week high of $141.77. The business's fifty day moving average price is $109.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $104.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.07 billion, a PE ratio of 21.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.00.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. Global Payments's dividend payout ratio is presently 18.83%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently commented on GPN shares. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Global Payments from $125.00 to $122.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $145.00 to $120.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Global Payments from $118.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Global Payments from $164.00 to $156.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $137.41.

About Global Payments

Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through two segments, Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.