First Data Corp (NYSE:FDC)’s share price gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $26.84, but opened at $25.42. First Data shares last traded at $25.16, with a volume of 30217525 shares changing hands.
A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of First Data from $25.64 to $26.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of First Data from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Co downgraded shares of First Data from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $25.05 price target for the company. in a report on Tuesday, February 12th. BTIG Research downgraded shares of First Data from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, February 7th. Finally, Susquehanna Bancshares reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $25.00 price target (down from $29.00) on shares of First Data in a report on Thursday, February 7th. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. First Data currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $25.19.
The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.01. The company has a market cap of $24.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.79, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 2.21.
First Data (NYSE:FDC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The business services provider reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.04. First Data had a net margin of 11.26% and a return on equity of 18.04%. The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.29 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that First Data Corp will post 1.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.
In other First Data news, President Guy Chiarello sold 203,647 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.85, for a total transaction of $5,264,274.95. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 1,324,235 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $34,231,474.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Andrew Gelb sold 38,625 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.90, for a total transaction of $1,000,387.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 432,951 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,213,430.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 375,384 shares of company stock valued at $9,680,575 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 4.87% of the company’s stock.
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Investors Research Corp purchased a new stake in shares of First Data in the first quarter worth approximately $39,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Data in the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,000. Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in shares of First Data by 116.6% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,716 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Bremer Bank National Association purchased a new stake in shares of First Data in the first quarter worth approximately $98,000. Finally, First Personal Financial Services lifted its position in shares of First Data by 57.9% in the fourth quarter. First Personal Financial Services now owns 4,049 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484 shares in the last quarter. 56.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
About First Data (NYSE:FDC)
First Data Corporation provides commerce enabled technology and solutions for merchants, financial institutions, and card issuers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Global Business Solutions, Global Financial Solutions, and Network & Security Solutions.