Principal Financial Group Inc. lessened its stake in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR - Free Report) by 30.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 153,716 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 66,929 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of AptarGroup worth $24,624,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 24.7% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 4,312 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $620,000 after purchasing an additional 853 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AptarGroup during the 1st quarter valued at $215,000. Swiss National Bank increased its stake in shares of AptarGroup by 0.4% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 129,800 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $18,677,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 0.9% during the first quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC now owns 43,225 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $6,219,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its stake in AptarGroup by 167.2% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 6,690 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $957,000 after purchasing an additional 4,186 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.52% of the company's stock.
Insider Transactions at AptarGroup
In related news, CFO Robert Kuhn sold 200 shares of AptarGroup stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.18, for a total transaction of $30,036.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 65,552 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,844,599.36. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Gael Touya sold 3,300 shares of AptarGroup stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.62, for a total transaction of $500,346.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 32,165 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,876,857.30. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Robert Kuhn sold 200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.18, for a total transaction of $30,036.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 65,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,844,599.36. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 44,735 shares of company stock worth $7,285,268. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $155.00 to $215.00 in a report on Monday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of AptarGroup from $168.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Dbs Bank raised AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on AptarGroup from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $195.00.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on ATR
AptarGroup Stock Performance
Shares of AptarGroup stock traded down $0.22 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $175.48. The company's stock had a trading volume of 66,851 shares, compared to its average volume of 291,000. The business's fifty day moving average price is $161.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $151.52. AptarGroup, Inc. has a one year low of $122.29 and a one year high of $178.03. The firm has a market cap of $11.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.62.
AptarGroup announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, October 10th that permits the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to purchase up to 4.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
AptarGroup Dividend Announcement
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 24th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 24th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. AptarGroup's payout ratio is 36.14%.
AptarGroup Profile
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Free Report)
AptarGroup, Inc designs and manufactures a range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active material science solutions and services for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through Aptar Pharma, Aptar Beauty, and Aptar Closures segments.
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