Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) Sees Large Volume Increase - Here's Why

Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 2,168,117 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 44% from the previous session's volume of 1,505,070 shares.The stock last traded at $37.76 and had previously closed at $37.78.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on JNPR. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Juniper Networks from $40.00 to $37.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Juniper Networks in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Juniper Networks in a research report on Monday, September 16th. They issued a "hold" rating for the company. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $39.50.

Juniper Networks Stock Up 0.4 %

The company has a market cap of $12.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 11.75 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.72. The stock's fifty day moving average is $37.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.83.

Juniper Networks Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. Juniper Networks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.79%.

Institutional Trading of Juniper Networks

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Juniper Networks by 2,069.4% during the 2nd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 781 shares of the network equipment provider's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 745 shares during the last quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC bought a new position in Juniper Networks during the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Juniper Networks by 60.3% during the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,188 shares of the network equipment provider's stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 447 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its position in Juniper Networks by 71.4% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,546 shares of the network equipment provider's stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 644 shares during the period. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Juniper Networks in the third quarter valued at about $61,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.95% of the company's stock.

Juniper Networks Company Profile

Juniper Networks, Inc designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers.