Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seventeen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $103.6667.

NDAQ has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays set a $115.00 target price on Nasdaq and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Raymond James Financial restated an “outperform” rating and set a $100.00 target price (up from $99.00) on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Monday, October 13th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $120.00 target price (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Nasdaq in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $113.00 price target (up from $111.00) on shares of Nasdaq in a research note on Thursday.

Nasdaq Price Performance

Shares of NDAQ stock opened at $100.98 on Thursday. Nasdaq has a 1 year low of $64.84 and a 1 year high of $101.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $93.72 and its 200-day moving average is $92.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.06, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.01.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.06. Nasdaq had a net margin of 19.90% and a return on equity of 16.28%. The business had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.74 earnings per share. Nasdaq’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Nasdaq will post 3.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Nasdaq

In other news, EVP Jeremy Skule sold 2,105 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.40, for a total value of $179,767.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 84,974 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,256,779.60. This represents a 2.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John Zecca sold 4,500 shares of Nasdaq stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.01, for a total value of $450,045.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 125,674 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,568,656.74. This trade represents a 3.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 306,605 shares of company stock worth $29,546,812. Insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Nasdaq

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NDAQ. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in Nasdaq by 3.8% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 14,574 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,106,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP grew its holdings in shares of Nasdaq by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 34,962 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,652,000 after buying an additional 10,110 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in shares of Nasdaq by 22.0% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 14,351 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,089,000 after buying an additional 2,584 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in Nasdaq by 345.5% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 597 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 463 shares during the period. Finally, Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in Nasdaq by 6.3% during the second quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 101,041 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $9,035,000 after acquiring an additional 6,005 shares in the last quarter. 72.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Nasdaq Company Profile

Nasdaq, Inc is a global financial technology company that operates one of the world’s leading electronic securities exchanges and provides a broad array of products and services to capital markets participants. Its core activities include operating the Nasdaq Stock Market and other trading venues, developing and supplying market technology and matching engines to exchanges and trading firms, licensing market data and indices, and offering clearing, trade execution and post-trade solutions. The company also provides market surveillance, risk management and regulatory technology used by exchanges and regulators.

Founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) as the first electronic stock market, Nasdaq has evolved into a diversified marketplace and technology provider.