Ostrum Asset Management Cuts Stake in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Ostrum Asset Management decreased its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) by 38.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 186 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 117 shares during the period. Ostrum Asset Management’s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $53,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,876,530 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,965,774,000 after acquiring an additional 81,079 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,734,430 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $779,426,000 after purchasing an additional 51,228 shares during the period. Amundi raised its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 26.2% in the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 2,073,594 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $580,095,000 after buying an additional 430,498 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Rockwell Automation by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,570,036 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $448,701,000 after buying an additional 13,744 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,417,323 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $405,057,000 after acquiring an additional 53,287 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

NYSE ROK opened at $226.76 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $261.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $275.15. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 12-month low of $215.00 and a 12-month high of $308.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.64 billion, a PE ratio of 28.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 30.17% and a net margin of 11.38%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.26%.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other news, VP Isaac Woods sold 876 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.03, for a total value of $248,810.28. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,057 shares in the company, valued at approximately $300,219.71. This trade represents a 45.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Matheus De A. G. Viera Bulho sold 293 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.68, for a total transaction of $75,500.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,922 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $495,260.96. The trade was a 13.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,750 shares of company stock worth $1,075,923. Company insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on ROK shares. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Loop Capital raised their target price on Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $345.00 to $275.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $257.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $297.11.

Rockwell Automation Profile

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.