Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. Approximately 4,186,392 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 41% from the previous session’s volume of 2,975,550 shares.The stock last traded at $73.19 and had previously closed at $73.16.

The information technology services provider reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.05. Fidelity National Information Services had a return on equity of 15.35% and a net margin of 14.37%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.94 earnings per share.

Fidelity National Information Services Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This is an increase from Fidelity National Information Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 11th. Fidelity National Information Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.37%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

FIS has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $92.00 to $86.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $102.00 to $92.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Raymond James lowered Fidelity National Information Services from a “strong-buy” rating to an “outperform” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $115.00 to $101.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Fidelity National Information Services presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $88.55.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Lenore D. Williams sold 11,305 shares of Fidelity National Information Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.97, for a total value of $994,500.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 32,199 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,832,546.03. The trade was a 25.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jeffrey A. Goldstein acquired 701 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $79.97 per share, with a total value of $56,058.97. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $887,507.06. The trade was a 6.74 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Fidelity National Information Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT boosted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 2,869 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,938 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $480,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the period. Graypoint LLC increased its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,026 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $253,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Old Port Advisors raised its stake in Fidelity National Information Services by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Old Port Advisors now owns 2,867 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $232,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Finally, Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 3.9% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,679 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. 96.23% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Fidelity National Information Services Trading Up 0.4 %

The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $81.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $82.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.04.

About Fidelity National Information Services

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc engages in the provision of financial services technology solutions for financial institutions, businesses, and developers worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Capital Market Solutions, and Corporate and Other segments. The company provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; card and retail payment; electronic funds transfer and network; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions.