Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Sees Large Volume Increase - Time to Buy?

Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 20,974,172 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 121% from the previous session's volume of 9,497,800 shares.The stock last traded at $172.58 and had previously closed at $161.03.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Oracle in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Guggenheim lifted their price target on Oracle from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on Oracle from $201.00 to $202.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, September 30th. BNP Paribas raised Oracle to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Oracle from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $182.73.

Oracle Price Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $174.87 and a 200-day moving average of $161.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $483.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.25, a PEG ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 1.06.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, December 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.01). Oracle had a return on equity of 133.25% and a net margin of 21.16%. The company had revenue of $14.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.34 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Oracle Co. will post 5.01 EPS for the current year.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 23rd were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 10th. Oracle's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Oracle

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in Oracle by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 72,166 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $12,026,000 after acquiring an additional 2,975 shares during the period. Duncan Williams Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Oracle by 141.1% in the 4th quarter. Duncan Williams Asset Management LLC now owns 3,076 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $513,000 after buying an additional 1,800 shares in the last quarter. Moody Lynn & Lieberson LLC grew its position in shares of Oracle by 133.7% during the fourth quarter. Moody Lynn & Lieberson LLC now owns 26,252 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $4,375,000 after purchasing an additional 15,020 shares in the last quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Oracle by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC now owns 2,043 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc boosted its stake in Oracle by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 191,951 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $31,996,000 after purchasing an additional 8,634 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 42.44% of the company's stock.

About Oracle

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.

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