Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (NYSE:BBVA)’s share price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $9.54, but opened at $9.83. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria shares last traded at $9.84, with a volume of 211,063 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on BBVA. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a “moderate buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. StockNews.com raised Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy”.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $57.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.65, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.31. The company’s 50 day moving average is $10.18 and its 200 day moving average is $10.33.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 9th were given a dividend of $0.3244 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.6%. This is an increase from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 9th. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.31%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BBVA. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in the first quarter valued at $133,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 6.6% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 326,656 shares of the bank’s stock worth $3,868,000 after purchasing an additional 20,143 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 48.2% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 5,788 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 1,882 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 1.5% in the first quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 82,947 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $982,000 after purchasing an additional 1,217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in the 1st quarter worth about $464,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.96% of the company’s stock.

About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance.