JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) Shares Decline by 0.7% - Time to Sell?

On Thursday, shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) experienced a decline of 0.7%. The stock hit a low of $247.18 before stabilizing at around $249.38. During this period, a total of 2,225,045 shares were exchanged, marking a significant drop of 75% compared to the average trading volume of 8,862,698 shares. The previous closing price for the stock was $251.03.

In recent updates from analysts regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co., Robert W. Baird elevated the stock's rating from "underperform" to "neutral" while increasing the price target from $215 to $220 in an analysis published on March 7. On the same day, Baird R W upgraded the stock from a "strong sell" to a "hold" rating. Furthermore, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price goal from $257 to $264, giving the stock a "market perform" rating in their report earlier this year. UBS Group also increased their target price from $276 to $287, recommending a "buy". Lastly, Bank of America upped their target from $260 to $280 with a "buy" rating. Currently, there are ten analysts who favor holding the stock while an equal number suggest buying, resulting in a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target estimated at $252.89.

Current Stock Performance

The stock's 50-day moving average sits at $257.99, while the 200-day moving average is at $240.06. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boasts a market capitalization of $696.87 billion. Key financial metrics include a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83, and a beta value of 1.10. Additionally, the firm has a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.88, along with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. last reported its quarterly earnings on January 15, where it posted earnings per share of $4.81, surpassing the expected $4.03 by $0.78. The company recorded a revenue of $42.77 billion, exceeding the analyst predictions of $41.90 billion. The firm achieved a return on equity of 16.99% and a net margin of 20.96%, representing a 10.9% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter the previous year, where earnings were reported at $3.04 per share. Analysts anticipate that the company will reveal earnings per share of 18.1 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

Recently, JPMorgan Chase & Co. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.40, scheduled for distribution on April 30. Shareholders recorded by April 4 will receive this payment, representing an increase from the former quarterly dividend of $1.25. This translates to an annual payout of $5.60, reflecting a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date for this distribution is also set for April 4. Currently, the company's payout ratio stands at 28.37%.

Insider Trading Activity

In related developments, CEO Troy L. Rohrbaugh sold 25,000 shares of the company's stock on March 24 at an average price of $247.02, totaling $6,175,500. After this sale, he retains 133,381 shares valued at approximately $32,947,774.62, indicating a 15.78% reduction in his holdings. This insider transaction was officially documented with the SEC. Additionally, insider Robin Leopold sold 1,250 shares on February 20 at an average price of $270.09, resulting in a transaction value of $337,612.50. Post-sale, he owns 50,377 shares worth $13,606,323.93. Within the last 90 days, insiders have sold 76,848 shares, aggregating to $19,987,908 and insiders now hold 0.79% of the company's stock.

Institutional Ownership Changes

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently engaged in trading JPMorgan Chase & Co. shares. Notably, Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Similar transactions were made by Sellwood Investment Partners LLC and Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada, with investments amounting to $34,000 and $37,000 respectively. Other institutions, including Midwest Capital Advisors LLC and Prudent Man Investment Management Inc., also acquired new positions worth up to $43,000. Overall, institutional investors now control 71.55% of the company's stock.

Company Overview

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company actively involved in offering a wide range of financial and investment banking services. The firm provides various investment banking products and services across all capital markets, including advisory services on corporate strategy, capital raising in equity and debt markets, market-making in securities, and offering brokerage and research services.

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