Venture Visionary Partners LLC Acquires 6,266 Shares of CME Group Inc. $CME

Key Points

• Venture Visionary Partners increased its CME Group stake by 154.1% in the third quarter, acquiring 6,266 additional shares and bringing its holdings to 10,333 shares valued at approximately $2.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 87.75% of CME’s stock.
• CME reported quarterly earnings of $2.99 per share on revenue of $1.71 billion, exceeding analyst expectations, while maintaining a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share, or $5.20 annually.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: CME has a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $291.62, while recent market developments include bullish views on derivatives demand but competitive concerns from new oil-futures proposals.

Venture Visionary Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME - Free Report) by 154.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,333 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 6,266 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLC's holdings in CME Group were worth $2,707,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of CME Group by 235.5% in the third quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 255 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Investors Research Corp purchased a new position in CME Group during the third quarter worth approximately $668,000. North Point Portfolio Managers Corp OH purchased a new position in CME Group during the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. First Community Trust NA acquired a new position in CME Group during the third quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Iowa State Bank acquired a new position in CME Group during the third quarter worth $1,779,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.75% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at CME Group

In related news, CEO Terrence A. Duffy sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.44, for a total transaction of $4,116,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 40,630 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,150,497.20. This trade represents a 26.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director William R. Shepard bought 293 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 25th. The stock was bought at an average price of $268.76 per share, with a total value of $78,746.68. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 263,289 shares in the company, valued at $70,761,551.64. The trade was a 0.11% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

More CME Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting CME Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Overweight rating, adding a new bullish institutional view on CME’s exchange business and prospects. Wells Fargo initiates coverage of CME Group with overweight rating
• Positive Sentiment: Record French government debt and widening bond yields could increase demand for interest-rate and bond derivatives. That environment may lift trading volumes at CME and other U.S. market operators as investors hedge risk. Record French Debt Could Create Opportunities for US Market Operators
• Positive Sentiment: CME remains favorably positioned relative to Intercontinental Exchange. An investor comparison highlights CME’s roughly 22-times earnings valuation and approximately 4.3% dividend yield, which could support its appeal to income-oriented investors. CME Group versus Intercontinental Exchange
• Neutral Sentiment: Gold prices declined as the U.S. dollar strengthened ahead of Federal Reserve meeting minutes. CME benefits from activity across metals, rates and other futures, but the immediate effect on revenue is unclear. Gold Prices Dip as US Dollar Gains Ahead of Fed Policy Minutes
• Negative Sentiment: CME suspended plans to launch a 24/7, 10-barrel crude-oil futures contract after resistance from regulators and major industry hedgers. The decision removes a potential new product and revenue opportunity, although it may prevent implementation and liquidity risks. CME Group’s Plan for 24/7 Oil Trading Scrapped
• Negative Sentiment: Kalshi has asked the CFTC to approve a non-expiring WTI crude-oil futures contract that would trade around the clock. If approved, the product could compete with CME in a strategically important derivatives market. Kalshi Wants Non-Expiring WTI Futures Approval

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on CME. Barclays raised their target price on CME Group from $270.00 to $281.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of CME Group from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of CME Group from $249.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of CME Group from $267.00 to $245.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $320.00 target price on shares of CME Group in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $291.62.

CME Group Price Performance

NASDAQ:CME opened at $270.27 on Thursday. CME Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $218.31 and a 52 week high of $329.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a market capitalization of $97.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.24. The stock's fifty day moving average is $271.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $271.41.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $2.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.91 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.68 billion. CME Group had a return on equity of 15.60% and a net margin of 63.30%.The company's revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.96 EPS. Equities analysts expect that CME Group Inc. will post 12.28 EPS for the current year.

CME Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 9th were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 9th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. CME Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.11%.

CME Group Company Profile

CME Group Inc operates global derivatives marketplaces that enable customers to manage risk and trade futures and options contracts. Its exchanges offer products linked to interest rates, equity indexes, foreign currencies, agricultural commodities, energy, metals and other asset classes.

The company also provides central counterparty clearing, settlement and related risk-management services for transactions conducted on its markets. In addition, CME Group offers market data, benchmark products and technology services that support trading, analysis and connectivity for financial institutions, businesses, professional traders and other market participants.

CME Group's history includes the Chicago Board of Trade, founded in 1848, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, established in 1898.

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