World Investment Advisors Decreases Holdings in Nasdaq, Inc. $NDAQ

World Investment Advisors decreased its holdings in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) by 61.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,763 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 18,875 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors’ holdings in Nasdaq were worth $999,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NDAQ. NBC Securities Inc. raised its position in Nasdaq by 7.8% during the fourth quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,529 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $149,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. ORG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Nasdaq by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,746 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $170,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Independent Advisor Alliance increased its position in shares of Nasdaq by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 4,574 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Orgel Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Nasdaq by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Orgel Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,623 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $255,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its position in Nasdaq by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 8,560 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $831,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. 72.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Nasdaq

In other Nasdaq news, insider Cohen Tal sold 15,518 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.75, for a total value of $1,408,258.50. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 215,208 shares in the company, valued at $19,530,126. This represents a 6.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michelle Lynn Daly sold 1,323 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.82, for a total transaction of $117,508.86. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 10,089 shares in the company, valued at approximately $896,104.98. This trade represents a 11.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 24,551 shares of company stock valued at $2,225,990 over the last 90 days. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $110.00 price objective on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Nasdaq from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Loop Capital set a $113.00 price target on shares of Nasdaq in a report on Friday, April 24th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Nasdaq in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Nasdaq from $115.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Nasdaq currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.54.

Nasdaq Stock Performance

NDAQ stock opened at $84.39 on Thursday. Nasdaq, Inc. has a twelve month low of $76.55 and a twelve month high of $101.79. The firm has a market cap of $47.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.42, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $87.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $89.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.42 billion. Nasdaq had a net margin of 23.15% and a return on equity of 17.51%. The business’s revenue was up 13.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.79 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Nasdaq, Inc. will post 3.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Nasdaq Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 12th were given a $0.31 dividend. This is a positive change from Nasdaq’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 12th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. Nasdaq’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.35%.

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.