First Trust Advisors LP Has $18.56 Million Position in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE)

First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE - Free Report) by 703.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,533 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 109,031 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP's holdings in Intercontinental Exchange were worth $18,557,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of ICE. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,196,258,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Intercontinental Exchange in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $406,728,000. Swedbank AB lifted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 2,293.3% in the fourth quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 2,215,767 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $330,171,000 after buying an additional 2,123,185 shares during the period. AMF Tjanstepension AB lifted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 1,237.7% in the fourth quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 1,701,585 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $253,591,000 after buying an additional 1,574,386 shares during the period. Finally, Independent Franchise Partners LLP lifted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 20.8% in the fourth quarter. Independent Franchise Partners LLP now owns 6,160,836 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $918,026,000 after buying an additional 1,062,904 shares during the period. 89.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Intercontinental Exchange

In other news, SVP Douglas Foley sold 10,580 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.47, for a total value of $1,761,252.60. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 21,992 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,661,008.24. This represents a 32.48 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Benjamin Jackson sold 7,900 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.43, for a total value of $1,354,297.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 147,274 shares in the company, valued at $25,247,181.82. The trade was a 5.09 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 62,931 shares of company stock valued at $10,492,868. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Intercontinental Exchange Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of ICE stock traded up $1.76 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $168.09. 3,671,833 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,932,888. The business has a 50 day moving average of $166.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $160.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 52 week low of $124.34 and a 52 week high of $177.45. The company has a market capitalization of $96.57 billion, a PE ratio of 35.17, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.09.

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.53 by ($0.01). Intercontinental Exchange had a return on equity of 12.95% and a net margin of 23.42%. Analysts anticipate that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 6.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Intercontinental Exchange Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 16th will be given a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.14%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 16th. Intercontinental Exchange's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ICE has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $190.00 to $189.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $179.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $178.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Intercontinental Exchange has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $182.47.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.