Keystone Financial Planning Inc. Has $9.55 Million Position in CME Group Inc. $CME

Keystone Financial Planning Inc. increased its stake in shares of CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) by 35.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 43,265 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 11,228 shares during the quarter. CME Group makes up about 2.5% of Keystone Financial Planning Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Keystone Financial Planning Inc.’s holdings in CME Group were worth $9,554,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of CME Group by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 10,027 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,660,000 after buying an additional 1,037 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP raised its stake in CME Group by 103.1% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 3,692 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,018,000 after buying an additional 121,707 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in CME Group by 1,325.2% in the second quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 23,572 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,497,000 after acquiring an additional 21,918 shares in the last quarter. Nebula Research & Development LLC bought a new position in CME Group in the second quarter worth approximately $992,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in CME Group by 2.6% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 287,876 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $79,344,000 after acquiring an additional 7,397 shares during the period. 87.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at CME Group

In other news, Director William Shepard bought 325 shares of CME Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 25th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $230.57 per share, for a total transaction of $74,935.25. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 260,442 shares in the company, valued at $60,050,111.94. The trade was a 0.12% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CME has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group decreased their price objective on CME Group from $310.00 to $260.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on CME Group from $267.00 to $245.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $320.00 price target on shares of CME Group in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of CME Group from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of CME Group from $324.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CME Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $289.75.

Key Headlines Impacting CME Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder distribution: CME is scheduled to distribute approximately $467 million in dividends on September 25, reinforcing its appeal to income-oriented investors and highlighting the exchange operator’s strong cash-generation profile. CME Group’s $467 Million Dividend: What Shareholders Collect Sept. 25
• Positive Sentiment: Product expansion: CME’s new single-stock futures offer investors leveraged and capital-efficient exposure to individual equities. The product broadens CME’s equity derivatives lineup and could create additional trading volume and fee revenue over time. CME’s New Single Stock Futures: What Are The Advantages Vs. Stocks?
• Positive Sentiment: European market entry: CME plans to enter the European dairy market through a deal involving EEX, expanding its addressable market and potentially improving its international commodities presence. CME Group to enter European dairy market through EEX deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership succession: CME named insider Jack Tobin as CFO, succeeding Lynne Fitzpatrick, who is expected to become CEO in March 2027. The planned internal transition may provide continuity, although investors could monitor execution during the leadership change. CME Group names Jack Tobin as CFO
• Neutral Sentiment: Interest-rate backdrop: Reports that Federal Reserve Chair Warsh favors rate hikes, while the Treasury considers buying longer-maturity debt, point to continued uncertainty over rates, inflation and bond-market conditions. These factors can affect CME’s interest-rate and fixed-income trading volumes. Fed and Treasury at Odds
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory litigation: The Hyperliquid Policy Center filed an amicus brief urging dismissal of CME’s lawsuit against the CFTC. The development adds uncertainty to CME’s regulatory position and could weigh on sentiment surrounding its digital-asset and derivatives initiatives. Hyperliquid Policy Center Files Amicus Brief Urging Dismissal of CME’s Suit Against CFTC

CME Group Stock Performance

Shares of CME Group stock opened at $274.70 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 business has a 50 day moving average price of $262.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $277.67. The company has a market cap of $98.78 billion, a PE ratio of 23.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.24.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $2.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.91 by $0.08. CME Group had a return on equity of 15.60% and a net margin of 63.30%.The company had revenue of $1.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.96 earnings per share. CME Group’s quarterly revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that CME Group Inc. will post 12.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CME Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 9th. CME Group’s payout ratio is currently 44.11%.

About CME Group

CME Group Inc operates global derivatives marketplaces that provide trading, clearing and settlement services for a broad range of financial and commodity products. Its exchange platforms enable participants to manage risk, discover prices and gain exposure to asset classes including interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, metals, agricultural commodities and digital assets.

The company’s principal marketplaces include CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX. Products are offered through futures and options contracts, with electronic trading available through CME Globex as well as exchange-based and privately negotiated transactions.