Caprock Group LLC Raises Stock Holdings in CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME)

Caprock Group LLC raised its position in shares of CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) by 7.1% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 6,514 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 434 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in CME Group were worth $1,550,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in shares of CME Group by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 73,355 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $16,186,000 after acquiring an additional 4,742 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC grew its position in CME Group by 10.2% during the 3rd quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 593 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $131,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its holdings in shares of CME Group by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 126,636 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $27,942,000 after buying an additional 1,083 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of CME Group by 27.1% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,131 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $912,000 after buying an additional 881 shares during the period. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of CME Group by 18.9% in the third quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 3,837 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $847,000 after buying an additional 609 shares during the last quarter. 87.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CME Group Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of CME opened at $236.52 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $234.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $222.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $85.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.87, a PEG ratio of 5.28 and a beta of 0.56. CME Group Inc. has a one year low of $190.70 and a one year high of $249.02.

CME Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 27th were given a $5.80 dividend. This is a boost from CME Group’s previous dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 27th. CME Group’s dividend payout ratio is 48.37%.

CME Group declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, December 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 3.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on CME. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on CME Group from $260.00 to $256.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $235.00 price target on shares of CME Group in a report on Monday, January 6th. Citigroup cut shares of CME Group from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $250.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of CME Group from $227.00 to $226.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on CME Group from $250.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CME Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $229.27.

About CME Group

CME Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates contract markets for the trading of futures and options on futures contracts worldwide. It offers futures and options products based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, agricultural commodities, energy, and metals, as well as fixed income and foreign currency trading services.