Insider Selling: Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO) EVP Sells 24,602 Shares of Stock

Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO - Get Free Report) EVP Colin Yankee sold 24,602 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.15, for a total value of $1,332,198.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 33,645 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,821,876.75. The trade was a 42.24 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

Tractor Supply Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Tractor Supply stock traded up $0.15 on Monday, hitting $57.14. 4,901,294 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,532,087. The company has a fifty day moving average of $54.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $55.38. Tractor Supply has a one year low of $46.76 and a one year high of $61.53. The company has a market capitalization of $30.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.20.

Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The specialty retailer reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.28 by ($1.84). Tractor Supply had a net margin of 7.40% and a return on equity of 49.01%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Tractor Supply will post 2.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Tractor Supply Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 26th will be issued a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.44%. This is a boost from Tractor Supply's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 26th. Tractor Supply's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.14%.

Tractor Supply declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, February 13th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the specialty retailer to reacquire up to 3.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tractor Supply

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Smithfield Trust Co raised its stake in Tractor Supply by 286.2% during the 4th quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 475 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 352 shares during the period. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Tractor Supply by 944.4% during the fourth quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 470 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 425 shares during the period. PrairieView Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tractor Supply by 400.0% in the 4th quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC now owns 500 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC grew its position in Tractor Supply by 400.0% in the 4th quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC now owns 500 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Archer Investment Corp increased its stake in Tractor Supply by 400.0% during the 4th quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 500 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.72% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Tractor Supply from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Tractor Supply from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Tractor Supply from $65.00 to $64.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Tractor Supply from $54.40 to $56.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective on Tractor Supply from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $59.22.

About Tractor Supply

Tractor Supply Company operates as a rural lifestyle retailer in the United States. The company offers various merchandise, including livestock and equine feed and equipment, poultry, fencing, and sprayers and chemicals; food, treats, and equipment for dogs, cats, and other small animals, as well as dog wellness products; seasonal and recreation products comprising tractors and riders, lawn and garden, bird feeding, power equipment, and other recreational products; truck, tool, and hardware products, such as truck accessories, trailers, generators, lubricants, batteries, and hardware and tools; and clothing, gift, and décor products consist of clothing, footwear, toys, snacks, and decorative merchandise.