Analysts Set Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) PT at $154.78

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the twenty-three analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $155.65.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $175.00 to $158.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of Electronic Arts from $170.00 to $165.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. BNP Paribas lowered Electronic Arts from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $125.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 27th. Ascendiant Capital Markets increased their target price on Electronic Arts from $157.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson initiated coverage on Electronic Arts in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock.

Electronic Arts Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EA opened at $144.55 on Tuesday. Electronic Arts has a one year low of $115.21 and a one year high of $168.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.78, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $132.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $144.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.38.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The game software company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.41 by ($1.07). Electronic Arts had a net margin of 14.28% and a return on equity of 17.80%. On average, analysts predict that Electronic Arts will post 4.71 EPS for the current year.

Electronic Arts Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 26th were paid a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 26th. Electronic Arts’s payout ratio is 19.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Andrew Wilson sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.68, for a total value of $713,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 42,615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,080,308.20. This represents a 10.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.57, for a total value of $147,570.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 29,216 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,311,405.12. The trade was a 3.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 23,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,166,740 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Electronic Arts

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EA. DSG Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter worth approximately $677,000. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Electronic Arts by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 434,672 shares of the game software company’s stock worth $63,593,000 after buying an additional 11,949 shares during the last quarter. 111 Capital purchased a new position in shares of Electronic Arts in the 4th quarter worth $624,000. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its holdings in Electronic Arts by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 33,521 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $4,904,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PKO Investment Management Joint Stock Co purchased a new position in shares of Electronic Arts in the 4th quarter worth about $1,463,000. 90.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Electronic Arts Company Profile

Electronic Arts Inc develops, markets, publishes, and distributes games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation primarily under the Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, and license games from others, including FIFA, Madden NFL, UFC, and Star Wars brands.