Juniper Networks Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:JNPR)

Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR - Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock traders purchased 15,246 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 169% compared to the typical daily volume of 5,677 call options.

Juniper Networks Price Performance

JNPR traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $36.81. 2,878,722 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,202,092. Juniper Networks has a 1-year low of $33.42 and a 1-year high of $39.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.31 billion, a PE ratio of 35.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The business's 50-day moving average price is $35.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $36.31.

Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The network equipment provider reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.02. Juniper Networks had a return on equity of 8.71% and a net margin of 6.78%. The firm had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.29 EPS. Juniper Networks's quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Juniper Networks will post 1.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Juniper Networks Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. Juniper Networks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 83.81%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Juniper Networks

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in shares of Juniper Networks during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new position in Juniper Networks in the first quarter valued at $30,000. Hollencrest Capital Management purchased a new position in Juniper Networks during the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Juniper Networks by 47.8% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,123 shares of the network equipment provider's stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 363 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in Juniper Networks by 30.1% in the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,224 shares of the network equipment provider's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.95% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on JNPR shares. Rosenblatt Securities restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of Juniper Networks in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Juniper Networks from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Juniper Networks from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $40.00.

Juniper Networks Company Profile

Juniper Networks, Inc designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers.