1,795 Shares in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) Acquired by GAMMA Investing LLC

GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,795 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $153,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Graco by 103.7% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,275 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $111,000 after purchasing an additional 649 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in Graco by 13.4% in the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 39,111 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,393,000 after purchasing an additional 4,611 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its holdings in Graco by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 27,290 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,368,000 after purchasing an additional 1,900 shares during the period. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Graco by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 931 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $81,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the period. Finally, Greenleaf Trust bought a new position in Graco in the 4th quarter valued at $236,000. 93.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Timothy R. White sold 2,895 shares of Graco stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.49, for a total value of $253,283.55. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 50,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,442,917.18. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Graco news, VP Angela F. Wordell sold 3,588 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.60, for a total value of $335,836.80. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 12,725 shares in the company, valued at $1,191,060. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Timothy R. White sold 2,895 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.49, for a total transaction of $253,283.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,442,917.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 48,378 shares of company stock worth $4,376,528 in the last 90 days. 2.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on GGG shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Graco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Graco from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Graco from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. William Blair reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Graco in a report on Friday. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Graco from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $88.25.

Graco Stock Performance

NYSE GGG opened at $82.56 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $13.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a fifty day moving average of $91.03 and a 200-day moving average of $84.96. Graco Inc. has a 52-week low of $69.78 and a 52-week high of $94.77.

Graco (NYSE:GGG) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The industrial products company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $492.19 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $536.19 million. Graco had a return on equity of 23.01% and a net margin of 23.15%. Graco’s revenue for the quarter was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.74 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Graco Inc. will post 3.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graco Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 15th will be given a $0.255 dividend. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.24%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. Graco’s payout ratio is presently 35.17%.

About Graco

Graco Inc designs, manufactures, and markets systems and equipment used to move, measure, control, dispense, and spray fluid and powder materials worldwide. The Contractor segment offers sprayers to apply paint to walls and other structures; two-component proportioning systems that are used to spray polyurethane foam and polyurea coatings; and viscous coatings to roofs, as well as markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields, and floors.