Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC Enhances Stake in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC enhanced its investment in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) by 6.9% during the fourth quarter, as reported in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After acquiring an additional 4,787 shares in the quarter, the firm now holds a total of 73,970 shares of this financial services provider. As of the latest reporting period, these shares were valued at $11,022,000.

In addition to Kestra, several other significant investors have also recently adjusted their positions in Intercontinental Exchange. For instance, Wolff Wiese Magana LLC increased its investment in shares of ICE by a remarkable 1,470.0% during the third quarter, now owning 157 shares worth $25,000 after acquiring an extra 147 shares. Similarly, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC made a new investment valued at $26,000 during the same period. Other notable investors include Financial Management Professionals Inc., which boosted its holdings by 106.1%, and Capital Performance Advisors LLP, which acquired shares worth $29,000. Overall, institutional investors now own approximately 89.30% of Intercontinental Exchange's stock.

Intercontinental Exchange Stock Performance

On the trading front, shares of ICE commenced at $166.95. With a market capitalization of $95.86 billion, the stock presents a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 34.93 and a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 3.21. The stock's beta stands at 1.11. Over the past year, Intercontinental Exchange recorded a low of $124.34 and a high of $169.75, revealing a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63 and current liquidity ratios of 1.00 and 0.99, respectively. The stock is currently hovering around a 50-day moving average of $153.35 and a 200-day moving average of $156.93.

Recent Earnings and Dividends

Intercontinental Exchange last reported its quarterly earnings on February 6th, revealing earnings of $1.52 per share, slightly missing the analysts' consensus estimate of $1.53. The company achieved a return on equity of 12.95% with a net margin of 23.42%. Forecasts suggest that the company will post an earnings per share (EPS) of 6.63 for the current fiscal year.

In terms of shareholder returns, Intercontinental Exchange announced a quarterly dividend, which is set to be paid on December 31st to shareholders of record as of December 16th. This dividend amounts to $0.48 per share, translating to an annualized yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date is also established as December 16th, and the company maintains a dividend payout ratio of 37.66%.

Analyst Ratings and Insights

Brokerage firms have expressed varying opinions about ICE shares. Morgan Stanley recently raised its target price from $160.00 to $174.00 while maintaining an "equal weight" rating. Raymond James adjusted their rating from "strong-buy" to "outperform", setting a new target at $185.00. Royal Bank of Canada kept an "outperform" rating with a price objective of $200.00, while Deutsche Bank raised their target from $160.00 to $163.00. Currently, one analyst has recommended selling the stock, two have rated it as a hold, and thirteen have suggested a buy rating. MarketBeat reports a consensus of "Moderate Buy" for the stock, with an average target price of $178.80.

Insider Trading Activity

In related news, there have been insider transactions at Intercontinental Exchange. Chief Technology Officer Mayur Kapani sold 5,661 shares on January 15th at an average price of $147.59, totaling approximately $835,506.99. Post-sale, he holds 66,548 shares valued around $9,821,819.32, representing a decrease of 7.84% in ownership. Additionally, COO Stuart Glen Williams sold 750 shares on December 18th for $114,742.50, bringing his ownership down by 5.54%. In total, insiders have disposed of 13,795 shares valued at $2,120,572 over the past three months, with corporate insiders holding around 1.10% of the stock now.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide various market infrastructure, data services, and technological solutions to financial institutions, corporations, and government bodies across multiple regions, including the United States, the UK, the EU, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.

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