Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC Reduces Stock Position in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC decreased its position in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 45.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 59,359 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 50,132 shares during the period. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC's holdings in General Dynamics were worth $15,641,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Dynamics during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total transaction of $459,201.28. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at $2,857,224. This represents a 13.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 27,562 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.11, for a total transaction of $7,499,895.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 45,192 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,297,195.12. The trade was a 37.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.52% of the company's stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on GD shares. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $283.00 price target (down from $345.00) on shares of General Dynamics in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $315.00 to $295.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on General Dynamics from $245.00 to $241.00 and set a "sell" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Citigroup lowered their price target on General Dynamics from $335.00 to $330.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $307.00 to $284.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, General Dynamics currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $296.82.

General Dynamics Stock Up 0.4 %

General Dynamics stock traded up $1.04 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $277.69. 301,908 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,721,570. General Dynamics Co. has a one year low of $239.20 and a one year high of $316.90. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $259.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $273.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a market cap of $74.53 billion, a PE ratio of 20.36, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.43.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.10% and a net margin of 7.93%. On average, research analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.83 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be issued a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 11th. This is a boost from General Dynamics's previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. General Dynamics's dividend payout ratio is 43.99%.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.