S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $591.86.

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of S&P Global from $633.00 to $607.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. StockNews.com downgraded S&P Global from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on S&P Global from $576.00 to $590.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Bank of America assumed coverage on S&P Global in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $600.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on S&P Global from $618.00 to $565.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th.

S&P Global Price Performance

Shares of SPGI opened at $470.84 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $494.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $503.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. S&P Global has a twelve month low of $407.69 and a twelve month high of $545.39. The company has a market cap of $147.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.26.

S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The business services provider reported $3.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.41 by $0.36. S&P Global had a return on equity of 14.33% and a net margin of 27.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.13 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that S&P Global will post 17.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

S&P Global Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th were given a $0.96 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 26th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. This is an increase from S&P Global’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. S&P Global’s dividend payout ratio is 31.09%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On S&P Global

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of S&P Global by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,034 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $515,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC increased its holdings in S&P Global by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 674 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $336,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC raised its position in S&P Global by 25.6% during the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 108 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the period. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in S&P Global by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC now owns 574 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Planning Group LLC grew its position in shares of S&P Global by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 5,762 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,870,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.17% of the company’s stock.

About S&P Global

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.