Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $410.83, but opened at $397.27. Elbit Systems shares last traded at $396.37, with a volume of 23,223 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Elbit Systems from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th.

Elbit Systems Trading Up 2.4 %

The stock has a market cap of $18.00 billion, a PE ratio of 69.23 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a 50 day moving average of $325.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $265.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.15.

Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 18th. The aerospace company reported $2.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.71. Elbit Systems had a return on equity of 11.34% and a net margin of 4.00%. The business had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.78 billion. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Elbit Systems Ltd. will post 8.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Elbit Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. This is an increase from Elbit Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 22nd. Elbit Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.72%.

Institutional Trading of Elbit Systems

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Elbit Systems by 57.6% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,179 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $436,000 after buying an additional 796 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Elbit Systems by 22.5% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 3,158 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 579 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Elbit Systems by 1.7% during the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,351 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $2,071,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in Elbit Systems by 99.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,390 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $678,000 after purchasing an additional 1,690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in Elbit Systems by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 13,767 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,742,000 after purchasing an additional 2,556 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.88% of the company’s stock.

Elbit Systems Company Profile

Elbit Systems Ltd. develops and supplies a portfolio of airborne, land, and naval systems and products for the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation applications primarily in Israel. The company operates through Aerospace, C4I and Cyber, ISTAR and EW, Land, and Elbit Systems of America segments.