Xponance Inc. Reduces Holdings in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Xponance Inc. lowered its holdings in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 25,955 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,028 shares during the period. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $8,059,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Provence Wealth Management Group purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In related news, CFO Nicholas C. Gangestad sold 1,989 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $288.17, for a total value of $573,170.13. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 12,217 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,520,572.89. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $287.59, for a total transaction of $43,138.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,199 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $344,820.41. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Nicholas C. Gangestad sold 1,989 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $288.17, for a total value of $573,170.13. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 12,217 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,520,572.89. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,877 shares of company stock worth $5,058,772 over the last quarter. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Rockwell Automation Stock Down 1.3 %

ROK stock opened at $269.96 on Friday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 1-year low of $252.11 and a 1-year high of $348.52. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $282.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $284.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.43.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.62 by ($0.58). Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 37.22% and a net margin of 13.35%. The business had revenue of $2.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.46 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 11.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 13th will be paid a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 10th. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio is currently 47.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ROK has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays lowered their target price on Rockwell Automation from $269.00 to $265.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. UBS Group upgraded Rockwell Automation from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $305.00 to $360.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Rockwell Automation from $357.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Mizuho lowered their target price on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $254.00 target price on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday, March 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $310.08.

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.