CSG Systems International (NASDAQ:CSGS) Hits New 1-Year High Following Strong Earnings

CSG Systems International, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGS) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $65.00 and last traded at $63.82, with a volume of 59864 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $61.66.

The technology company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.20. CSG Systems International had a net margin of 5.52% and a return on equity of 32.77%.

CSG Systems International Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 19th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 19th. This is a boost from CSG Systems International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.97%. CSG Systems International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.86%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on CSGS shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of CSG Systems International from $51.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on shares of CSG Systems International from $64.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com lowered shares of CSG Systems International from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of CSG Systems International from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of CSG Systems International in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $71.17.

Institutional Trading of CSG Systems International

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in CSG Systems International during the third quarter worth approximately $840,000. Boston Trust Walden Corp raised its stake in CSG Systems International by 9.0% during the fourth quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 1,065,484 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $54,457,000 after purchasing an additional 88,216 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in CSG Systems International by 0.7% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 678,994 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $33,039,000 after purchasing an additional 4,903 shares during the period. Dean Investment Associates LLC raised its stake in shares of CSG Systems International by 116.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dean Investment Associates LLC now owns 119,248 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $5,801,000 after acquiring an additional 64,066 shares during the period. Finally, Martingale Asset Management L P purchased a new position in shares of CSG Systems International in the 3rd quarter valued at $866,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.07% of the company’s stock.

CSG Systems International Stock Performance

The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $53.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. The firm has a market cap of $1.89 billion, a PE ratio of 28.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.89.

CSG Systems International Company Profile

CSG Systems International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides revenue management and digital monetization, customer experience, and payment solutions primarily to the communications industry in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers Advanced Convergent Platform, a private SaaS platform; and related solutions, including service technician management, analytics, electronic bill presentment, etc.