Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) Short Interest Up 9.1% in December

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR - Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,260,000 shares, an increase of 9.1% from the November 30th total of 11,240,000 shares. Approximately 2.2% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,930,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.2 days.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Michael H. Train sold 21,525 shares of Emerson Electric stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.96, for a total transaction of $2,711,289.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 262,408 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,052,911.68. This trade represents a 7.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in Emerson Electric during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Emerson Electric in the third quarter worth $29,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Emerson Electric in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Emerson Electric by 361.5% during the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 300 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Emerson Electric during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Emerson Electric Price Performance

Emerson Electric stock traded down $0.33 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $123.93. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,171,566 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,768,892. The stock has a market cap of $70.58 billion, a PE ratio of 36.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Emerson Electric has a 52 week low of $91.64 and a 52 week high of $134.85. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $125.35 and a 200-day moving average price of $114.19.

Emerson Electric Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th were given a dividend of $0.5275 per share. This represents a $2.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.70%. This is a boost from Emerson Electric's previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. Emerson Electric's dividend payout ratio is currently 61.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on EMR. StockNews.com cut shares of Emerson Electric from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Loop Capital boosted their price objective on Emerson Electric from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. UBS Group assumed coverage on Emerson Electric in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $135.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Emerson Electric in a report on Friday, September 6th. They issued an "underweight" rating and a $105.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stephens cut shares of Emerson Electric from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $135.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Emerson Electric currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.58.

About Emerson Electric

Emerson Electric Co, a technology and software company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity.