LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA) Stock Rating Upgraded by UBS Group

LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA) was upgraded by UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage presently has a $390.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock. UBS Group’s price target suggests a potential upside of 16.20% from the company’s previous close.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of LPL Financial from $303.00 to $309.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $310.00 price target on shares of LPL Financial in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Citigroup raised their price target on LPL Financial from $285.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on LPL Financial from $271.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on LPL Financial from $325.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $345.17.

LPL Financial Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of LPLA stock opened at $335.64 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $25.13 billion, a PE ratio of 25.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 2.16 and a quick ratio of 2.16. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $319.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $264.48. LPL Financial has a 1 year low of $187.19 and a 1 year high of $344.86.

LPL Financial (NASDAQ:LPLA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $4.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.69 by $0.47. LPL Financial had a return on equity of 49.47% and a net margin of 8.73%. The company had revenue of $3.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.04 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.74 earnings per share. LPL Financial’s revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that LPL Financial will post 16.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at LPL Financial

In related news, Director Aneri Jambusaria sold 305 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.94, for a total transaction of $101,241.70. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,301,204.80. This trade represents a 7.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of LPL Financial

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in LPL Financial during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of LPL Financial in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Paladin Wealth LLC purchased a new position in LPL Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in LPL Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its stake in LPL Financial by 45.3% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $91,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. 95.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

LPL Financial Company Profile

LPL Financial Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides an integrated platform of brokerage and investment advisory services to independent financial advisors and financial advisors at enterprises in the United States. Its brokerage offerings include variable and fixed annuities, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, alternative investments, retirement and 529 education savings plans, and insurance.