Sat Nov 23 10:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Institutional Investors Shuffle SAP Holdings Amidst Mixed Analyst Ratings and Earnings Miss

**New York, NY –** Several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) in recent quarters, reflecting a mixed outlook on the software giant. MAI Capital Management significantly reduced its stake by 43.1%, selling 3,113 shares, while other firms like Cetera Advisors LLC and Creative Planning increased their holdings. New investments were also made by China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. and Dash Acquisitions Inc. further indicating varied confidence in the company.

These shifts in holdings come after SAP reported third-quarter earnings that missed analysts’ expectations. While revenue increased by 9.4% year-over-year to $8.47 billion, the company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23, falling short of the anticipated $1.31.

Despite the earnings miss, analyst sentiment remains relatively positive. Several firms, including Barclays, JMP Securities, and BMO Capital Markets, have raised their target price for SAP shares. Argus even upgraded its rating from “hold” to “buy.” However, this bullish sentiment is tempered by a “hold” rating from one analyst, resulting in a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $252.33, according to MarketBeat.

SAP shares traded at $236.21 on Friday, with 750,700 shares exchanged. The company boasts a market capitalization of $290.18 billion. While the stock has seen considerable fluctuation this year, ranging from a low of $148.38 to a high of $243.01, the long-term outlook remains a subject of debate among investors and analysts.

Read More