AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) Shares Up 0.4% - What's Next?

Shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR - Get Free Report) were up 0.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $146.95 and last traded at $146.17. Approximately 30,527 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 372,425 shares. The stock had previously closed at $145.63.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ATR. Bank of America cut AptarGroup from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $173.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com cut shares of AptarGroup from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on AptarGroup from $185.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Raymond James reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $190.00 price target (down from $200.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on AptarGroup from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $181.60.

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AptarGroup Stock Down 0.2 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $153.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.10. The company has a market cap of $9.74 billion, a PE ratio of 26.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.59.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 15.56%. As a group, analysts anticipate that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 EPS for the current year.

AptarGroup Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 5th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.23%. AptarGroup's payout ratio is 32.49%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AptarGroup

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ATR. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in AptarGroup in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of AptarGroup during the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Huntington National Bank grew its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 312.0% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 342 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp purchased a new position in AptarGroup in the 4th quarter worth $67,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in AptarGroup by 328.4% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 437 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. 88.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About AptarGroup

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.