SS&C Technologies (NASDAQ:SSNC) Shares Gap Up on Strong Earnings

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Friday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $81.80, but opened at $86.55. SS&C Technologies shares last traded at $86.69, with a volume of 779,529 shares changing hands.

The technology company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.09. SS&C Technologies had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 12.93%.

SS&C Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.15%. SS&C Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on SSNC. Raymond James raised their target price on SS&C Technologies from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on SS&C Technologies from $86.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of SS&C Technologies from $92.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday. UBS Group raised their price target on SS&C Technologies from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on SS&C Technologies from $90.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, SS&C Technologies has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.50.

Insider Buying and Selling at SS&C Technologies

In other news, SVP Jason Douglas White sold 69,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.07, for a total value of $5,317,830.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,412 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $494,172.84. The trade was a 91.50 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO William C. Stone sold 132,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.85, for a total value of $10,197,995.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 31,837,926 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,446,744,613.10. The trade was a 0.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 449,000 shares of company stock valued at $34,461,478. Company insiders own 15.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SS&C Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in SS&C Technologies by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 16,059,475 shares of the technology company's stock worth $1,191,774,000 after purchasing an additional 817,501 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of SS&C Technologies by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,624,174 shares of the technology company's stock worth $417,370,000 after acquiring an additional 121,223 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its holdings in SS&C Technologies by 283.1% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,279,386 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $400,161,000 after purchasing an additional 3,901,227 shares during the period. Cantillon Capital Management LLC raised its position in SS&C Technologies by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Cantillon Capital Management LLC now owns 4,533,081 shares of the technology company's stock worth $343,517,000 after acquiring an additional 25,895 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its holdings in SS&C Technologies by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,984,057 shares of the technology company's stock worth $295,657,000 after buying an additional 58,389 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.95% of the company's stock.

SS&C Technologies Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $21.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.87 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $77.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $75.22.

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc engages in the development and provision of software solutions to the financial services and healthcare industries. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Japan, Canada, and the Americas, excluding the United States and Canada.