Baillie Gifford & Co. Lowers Stock Holdings in Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC)

Baillie Gifford & Co. reduced its stake in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC - Free Report) by 13.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,051,194 shares of the company's stock after selling 315,946 shares during the period. Baillie Gifford & Co. owned 3.11% of Brunswick worth $132,671,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in Brunswick by 17.1% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,090,078 shares of the company's stock worth $259,010,000 after purchasing an additional 452,116 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Brunswick by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,487,773 shares of the company's stock valued at $124,705,000 after buying an additional 102,780 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Brunswick by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,414,490 shares of the company's stock worth $118,563,000 after buying an additional 168,384 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Brunswick by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,075,845 shares of the company's stock valued at $90,171,000 after buying an additional 28,781 shares during the period. Finally, Copeland Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Brunswick by 11.9% in the third quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 949,094 shares of the company's stock valued at $79,553,000 after acquiring an additional 101,123 shares during the last quarter. 99.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Brunswick

In related news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 433 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.65, for a total transaction of $28,426.45. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 25,361 shares in the company, valued at $1,664,949.65. The trade was a 1.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. DA Davidson cut their target price on Brunswick from $80.00 to $60.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Brunswick from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Roth Mkm decreased their target price on shares of Brunswick from $91.00 to $85.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. B. Riley upgraded shares of Brunswick to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Brunswick from $92.00 to $85.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brunswick has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $81.85.

Brunswick Stock Down 1.9 %

BC traded down $1.21 on Friday, hitting $62.81. 510,876 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 728,002. Brunswick Co. has a twelve month low of $62.33 and a twelve month high of $96.65. The company has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.06 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $66.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $75.14.

Brunswick (NYSE:BC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.06. Brunswick had a return on equity of 15.41% and a net margin of 2.48%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.45 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Brunswick Co. will post 4.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Brunswick Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.74%. This is a positive change from Brunswick's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. Brunswick's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 88.42%.

About Brunswick

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands.