Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Boosts Stake in Allegion plc (NYSE:ALLE)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc grew its position in Allegion plc (NYSE:ALLE) by 34.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 49,522 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 12,657 shares during the quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc owned 0.06% of Allegion worth $6,472,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Fiduciary Management Inc. WI purchased a new stake in shares of Allegion in the 4th quarter valued at about $116,484,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Allegion during the 4th quarter worth approximately $108,058,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Allegion during the 4th quarter worth approximately $65,175,000. Boston Partners increased its position in Allegion by 11.6% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,716,756 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $616,503,000 after purchasing an additional 488,390 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of Allegion by 312.4% in the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 574,012 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $75,012,000 after acquiring an additional 434,820 shares during the period. 92.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Tracy L. Kemp sold 2,032 shares of Allegion stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.74, for a total transaction of $257,535.68. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 10,273 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,302,000.02. The trade was a 16.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Nickolas A. Musial sold 403 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.70, for a total transaction of $50,254.10. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,972 shares in the company, valued at $620,008.40. This represents a 7.50% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,224 shares of company stock valued at $406,636 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Allegion Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of Allegion stock opened at $142.91 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $130.08 and a 200-day moving average of $132.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The company has a market capitalization of $12.30 billion, a PE ratio of 20.95, a P/E/G ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.02. Allegion plc has a 1-year low of $113.27 and a 1-year high of $156.10.

Allegion (NYSE:ALLE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $941.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $918.53 million. Allegion had a return on equity of 45.12% and a net margin of 15.84%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Allegion plc will post 7.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Allegion Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. Allegion’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.65%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ALLE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays upped their price target on Allegion from $126.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Allegion from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Allegion from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Allegion from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Allegion from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Allegion has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $140.40.

Allegion Company Profile

Allegion plc manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic security products and solutions worldwide. The company offers door controls and systems and exit devices; locks, locksets, portable locks, and key systems and services; electronic security products and access control systems; time, attendance, and workforce productivity systems; doors, accessories, and other.