Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Sells 4,115 Shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU)

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC decreased its position in The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) by 2.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 178,440 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 4,115 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Western Union worth $1,891,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Western Union during the third quarter valued at $25,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Western Union during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new position in shares of Western Union during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its holdings in shares of Western Union by 1,734.7% during the fourth quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 4,862 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 4,597 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Western Union during the fourth quarter valued at $53,000. Institutional investors own 91.81% of the company’s stock.

Western Union Trading Up 5.0 %

Shares of NYSE:WU opened at $11.62 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.25, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.20. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $10.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.08. The Western Union Company has a 52-week low of $10.04 and a 52-week high of $14.19.

Western Union (NYSE:WU) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.02). Western Union had a return on equity of 96.90% and a net margin of 22.19%. Analysts expect that The Western Union Company will post 1.79 EPS for the current year.

Western Union declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Friday, December 13th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to purchase up to 27.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Western Union Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.235 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.09%. Western Union’s payout ratio is currently 34.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WU. Barclays reduced their price target on Western Union from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 13th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Western Union in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Western Union from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $12.11.

Western Union Profile

The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices.