Barclays Has Lowered Expectations for LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA) Stock Price

LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA - Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by analysts at Barclays from $414.00 to $365.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "overweight" rating on the financial services provider's stock. Barclays's price objective indicates a potential upside of 17.21% from the company's previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on LPLA. TD Cowen raised shares of LPL Financial from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $277.00 to $413.00 in a report on Thursday, December 19th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of LPL Financial from $390.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and set a $435.00 target price on shares of LPL Financial in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on LPL Financial from $379.00 to $413.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on LPL Financial from $415.00 to $400.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $369.83.

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LPL Financial Stock Performance

LPLA stock traded up $9.89 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $311.42. 789,293 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 821,623. LPL Financial has a 52-week low of $187.19 and a 52-week high of $384.04. The stock has a market cap of $24.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.18, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60. The stock's 50-day moving average is $340.03 and its 200 day moving average is $319.00.

LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.01 by $0.24. LPL Financial had a return on equity of 49.41% and a net margin of 8.55%. As a group, analysts anticipate that LPL Financial will post 19.35 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at LPL Financial

In other LPL Financial news, CFO Matthew J. Audette sold 28,777 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $365.14, for a total transaction of $10,507,633.78. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 13,663 shares in the company, valued at $4,988,907.82. The trade was a 67.81 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Marc Eliot Cohen sold 1,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $365.85, for a total transaction of $402,435.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,075 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,490,838.75. This trade represents a 21.26 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 34,465 shares of company stock valued at $12,562,070. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of LPL Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Anchor Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of LPL Financial by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 9,697 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,166,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC grew its position in LPL Financial by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 505 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $165,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Alliance increased its stake in LPL Financial by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Alliance now owns 1,483 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $484,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of LPL Financial by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $393,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sanchez Wealth Management Group boosted its stake in shares of LPL Financial by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Sanchez Wealth Management Group now owns 1,686 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $551,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. 95.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

LPL Financial Company Profile

LPL Financial Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides an integrated platform of brokerage and investment advisory services to independent financial advisors and financial advisors at enterprises in the United States. Its brokerage offerings include variable and fixed annuities, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, alternative investments, retirement and 529 education savings plans, and insurance.