S&P Global Inc. $SPGI Stake Boosted by Candriam S.C.A.

Candriam S.C.A. lifted its stake in S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) by 13.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 124,659 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,700 shares during the quarter. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in S&P Global were worth $60,673,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in S&P Global by 1.1% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,094,919 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $15,868,750,000 after acquiring an additional 315,916 shares in the last quarter. TCI Fund Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of S&P Global by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. TCI Fund Management Ltd. now owns 11,091,623 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $5,848,502,000 after purchasing an additional 730,354 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of S&P Global by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,793,282 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,565,889,000 after purchasing an additional 42,724 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in S&P Global in the second quarter worth $2,188,945,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in S&P Global by 1.3% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,135,004 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,125,766,000 after buying an additional 26,945 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.17% of the company’s stock.

S&P Global Stock Performance

NYSE:SPGI opened at $439.44 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $516.11 and its 200-day moving average is $515.45. The company has a market cap of $133.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.96, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. S&P Global Inc. has a 52-week low of $427.14 and a 52-week high of $579.05.

S&P Global Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be given a $0.97 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is an increase from S&P Global’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.96. S&P Global’s dividend payout ratio is 27.93%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on SPGI shares. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of S&P Global in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on S&P Global from $625.00 to $599.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of S&P Global in a report on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $635.00 to $615.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $640.00 target price on shares of S&P Global in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and sixteen have issued a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $615.64.

S&P Global Company Profile

S&P Global is a leading provider of financial information, analytics and benchmark indices that serve investors, issuers, corporations and public institutions worldwide. The company operates through well-known businesses that include credit ratings, market intelligence and index licensing, as well as commodity and energy information services. Its products and services are used to assess creditworthiness, inform investment decisions, construct and track benchmark portfolios, and support risk and commodity market analysis.

S&P Global Ratings provides independent credit ratings, research and data used by fixed income investors and capital market participants to evaluate issuer and transaction risk.