Value Partners Investments Inc. Acquires 36,427 Shares of SAP SE (NYSE:SAP)

Value Partners Investments Inc. lifted its stake in SAP SE (NYSE:SAP - Free Report) by 1,174.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 39,528 shares of the software maker's stock after buying an additional 36,427 shares during the period. SAP comprises approximately 0.9% of Value Partners Investments Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Value Partners Investments Inc.'s holdings in SAP were worth $10,623,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Principal Street Partners LLC grew its position in SAP by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Principal Street Partners LLC now owns 3,688 shares of the software maker's stock worth $908,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its position in SAP by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 955 shares of the software maker's stock worth $235,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Alaethes Wealth LLC grew its position in SAP by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Alaethes Wealth LLC now owns 11,087 shares of the software maker's stock worth $2,730,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. boosted its position in SAP by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 1,366 shares of the software maker's stock valued at $367,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its position in SAP by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,186 shares of the software maker's stock valued at $538,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter.

SAP Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:SAP traded up $5.74 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $301.29. The company had a trading volume of 1,038,872 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,075,832. SAP SE has a 12 month low of $194.93 and a 12 month high of $311.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $370.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.72, a PEG ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 1.32. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $293.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $275.88.

SAP (NYSE:SAP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The software maker reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $10.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.08 billion. SAP had a return on equity of 13.66% and a net margin of 16.33%. On average, analysts predict that SAP SE will post 6.55 EPS for the current year.

SAP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 13th were issued a dividend of $2.5423 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 13th. This is a positive change from SAP's previous annual dividend of $2.39. This represents a yield of 0.8%. SAP's payout ratio is currently 35.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on SAP in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. They issued an "overweight" rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on SAP from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $330.00 price objective on shares of SAP in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. UBS Group upgraded SAP to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Argus reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $320.00 price objective on shares of SAP in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $271.83.

SAP Profile

SAP SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides applications, technology, and services worldwide. It offers SAP S/4HANA that provides software capabilities for finance, risk and project management, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain and asset management, and research and development; SAP SuccessFactors solutions for human resources, including HR and payroll, talent and employee experience management, and people and workforce analytics; and spend management solutions that covers direct and indirect spend, travel and expense, and external workforce management.