S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Wednesday.

A number of other analysts have also commented on SPGI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on S&P Global from $600.00 to $585.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $536.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on S&P Global from $595.00 to $600.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $599.00 to $608.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on S&P Global in a research note on Friday, December 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $600.00 target price for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $586.85.

S&P Global Trading Down 1.8 %

SPGI opened at $530.93 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $506.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $506.36. The firm has a market cap of $164.75 billion, a PE ratio of 46.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.20. S&P Global has a twelve month low of $407.69 and a twelve month high of $542.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.94.

S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The business services provider reported $3.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.36. S&P Global had a return on equity of 13.72% and a net margin of 25.80%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.13 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that S&P Global will post 15.34 EPS for the current year.

S&P Global Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th will be given a dividend of $0.96 per share. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.72%. This is an increase from S&P Global’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 26th. S&P Global’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.13%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On S&P Global

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SPGI. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of S&P Global during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,725,084,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of S&P Global in the 4th quarter valued at $527,207,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of S&P Global by 71,024.1% during the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 619,491 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $308,525,000 after buying an additional 618,620 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of S&P Global by 174,815.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 467,024 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $241,274,000 after buying an additional 466,757 shares during the last quarter. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new stake in S&P Global in the third quarter valued at about $224,976,000. 87.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

S&P Global Company Profile

S&P Global, Inc engages in the provision of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide. It operates through the following segments: Market Intelligence, Ratings, Commodity Insights, Mobility, Indices, and Engineering Solutions.