Bank of Montreal Can Trims Stock Position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Bank of Montreal Can trimmed its holdings in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 17.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 141,916 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 30,911 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.13% of Rockwell Automation worth $40,558,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ROK. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $284,177,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 85,513.1% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 675,487 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $193,047,000 after purchasing an additional 674,698 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 102.3% in the fourth quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,287,731 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $368,021,000 after purchasing an additional 651,116 shares during the period. Amundi increased its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 26.2% in the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 2,073,594 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $580,095,000 after purchasing an additional 430,498 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $56,887,000. Institutional investors own 75.75% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Isaac Woods sold 876 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.03, for a total transaction of $248,810.28. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,057 shares in the company, valued at approximately $300,219.71. The trade was a 45.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Terry L. Riesterer sold 850 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.21, for a total transaction of $255,178.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,633 shares in the company, valued at $490,242.93. This trade represents a 34.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,750 shares of company stock worth $1,075,923. 0.68% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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Rockwell Automation Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ROK traded down $0.70 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $232.72. 500,116 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 868,607. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $267.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $276.41. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a twelve month low of $215.00 and a twelve month high of $308.70. The firm has a market cap of $26.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.98, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 anticipate that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. Rockwell Automation's payout ratio is 65.26%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ROK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays decreased their price target on Rockwell Automation from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $350.00 to $283.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $315.00 to $337.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $345.00 to $275.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $297.11.

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.