Woodward Diversified Capital LLC Buys New Position in Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR)

Woodward Diversified Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,116 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $252,000.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Qsemble Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,412,000. Atria Investments Inc grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 9.7% in the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 29,638 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $6,373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,610 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the third quarter valued at approximately $483,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 53.5% in the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 10,768 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,434,000 after purchasing an additional 3,753 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 98.0% in the fourth quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 2,433 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $550,000 after purchasing an additional 1,204 shares in the last quarter. 90.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on BR shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $246.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $207.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $231.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group increased their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Broadridge Financial Solutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Broadridge Financial Solutions presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $239.17.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:BR traded up $0.96 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $242.53. 406,806 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 470,200. The company has a quick ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The business has a 50-day moving average of $232.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $222.18. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a twelve month low of $188.30 and a twelve month high of $243.00. The company has a market capitalization of $28.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.95 and a beta of 1.08.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The business services provider reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.24. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 44.40% and a net margin of 11.36%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.92 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 8.53 EPS for the current year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 13th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 13th. Broadridge Financial Solutions's payout ratio is currently 55.09%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Brett Keller sold 5,442 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.40, for a total value of $1,308,256.80. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,536 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,734,854.40. This represents a 25.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Laura Matlin sold 514 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $241.60, for a total value of $124,182.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 6,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,595,043.20. The trade was a 7.22 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 21,666 shares of company stock worth $5,050,766. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company's stock.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.