Empowered Funds LLC Increases Stock Position in Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC)

Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC - Free Report) by 177.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,259 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,450 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC's holdings in Brunswick were worth $1,763,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new stake in Brunswick during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brunswick during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Brunswick by 1,073.7% in the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 669 shares of the company's stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 612 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Brunswick by 669.0% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 969 shares of the company's stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 843 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC grew its holdings in Brunswick by 21.6% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,323 shares of the company's stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. 99.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Brunswick from $90.00 to $85.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. DA Davidson lowered their target price on Brunswick from $80.00 to $60.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Benchmark cut their price target on Brunswick from $100.00 to $90.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. B. Riley raised Brunswick to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Brunswick from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $81.85.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 433 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.65, for a total value of $28,426.45. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 25,361 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,664,949.65. This represents a 1.68 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Brunswick Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of BC stock traded down $0.15 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $64.64. 689,985 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 719,051. The stock has a market cap of $4.27 billion, a PE ratio of 34.02 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 stock's fifty day moving average price is $67.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $75.38. Brunswick Co. has a 1 year low of $62.64 and a 1 year high of $96.65.

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

Brunswick Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This is an increase from Brunswick's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Brunswick's payout ratio 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.