Virtu Financial LLC Boosts Holdings in The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU)

Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU - Free Report) by 92.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 61,314 shares of the credit services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 29,388 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in Western Union were worth $650,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in Western Union by 52.2% during the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 15,433 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $184,000 after acquiring an additional 5,292 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Western Union by 90.8% in the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 162,403 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,937,000 after acquiring an additional 77,290 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Western Union by 19.0% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 523,676 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $6,247,000 after acquiring an additional 83,715 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Western Union by 293.3% during the third quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 198,002 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $2,362,000 after purchasing an additional 147,658 shares during the period. Finally, Algert Global LLC raised its position in Western Union by 48.7% during the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 284,904 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $3,399,000 after purchasing an additional 93,280 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.81% of the company's stock.

Western Union Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of Western Union stock traded down $0.14 on Friday, reaching $10.48. The company had a trading volume of 3,659,118 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,411,019. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The Western Union Company has a 1 year low of $10.04 and a 1 year high of $13.95. The firm has a market cap of $3.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.79. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $10.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.96.

Western Union (NYSE:WU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.02). Western Union had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 96.90%. As a group, research analysts predict that The Western Union Company will post 1.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Western Union declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Friday, December 13th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to reacquire up to 27.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Western Union Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.235 per share. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. Western Union's payout ratio is 34.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WU has been the topic of a number of research reports. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Western Union in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Western Union from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 13th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Western Union from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have given a hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Western Union currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $12.11.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices.