Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Shares Sold by Hoey Investments Inc.

Hoey Investments Inc. trimmed its stake in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) by 21.5% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,744 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 479 shares during the quarter. Hoey Investments Inc.’s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $498,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ROK. West Oak Capital LLC lifted its position in Rockwell Automation by 455.6% in the 4th quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 41.0% in the 4th quarter. Knuff & Co LLC now owns 141 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

Rockwell Automation Trading Down 3.7 %

Shares of NYSE ROK opened at $258.22 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $242.81 and a one year high of $308.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $278.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $278.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.20 billion, a PE ratio of 32.16, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39.

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

Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.31 dividend. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.26%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Isaac Woods sold 895 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.72, for a total transaction of $245,874.40. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,198 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $329,114.56. This trade represents a 42.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.14, for a total transaction of $145,070.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,905 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $552,716.70. This represents a 20.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,352 shares of company stock worth $1,246,298. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ROK has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stephens raised Rockwell Automation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $275.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Barclays dropped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $285.00 to $280.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Rockwell Automation from $257.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Rockwell Automation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $290.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $307.42.

About Rockwell Automation

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.