Entropy Technologies LP Cuts Holdings in Avery Dennison Co. (NYSE:AVY)

Entropy Technologies LP reduced its stake in Avery Dennison Co. (NYSE:AVY - Free Report) by 89.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,152 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 18,416 shares during the quarter. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Avery Dennison were worth $403,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Avery Dennison by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 142 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new stake in Avery Dennison in the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Avery Dennison in the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Avery Dennison by 1,400.0% during the third quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 255 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Avery Dennison by 76.0% during the fourth quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 301 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. 94.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Avery Dennison Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE AVY traded down $1.12 during trading on Friday, hitting $181.76. The stock had a trading volume of 526,618 shares, compared to its average volume of 796,954. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.89. Avery Dennison Co. has a one year low of $178.72 and a one year high of $233.48. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $188.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $203.39.

Avery Dennison (NYSE:AVY - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.39 by ($0.01). Avery Dennison had a return on equity of 33.06% and a net margin of 8.05%. Sell-side analysts predict that Avery Dennison Co. will post 9.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Avery Dennison Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 5th. Avery Dennison's payout ratio is currently 40.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Nicholas Colisto sold 3,679 shares of Avery Dennison stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $206.00, for a total transaction of $757,874.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 7,126 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,467,956. The trade was a 34.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America cut their price objective on Avery Dennison from $238.00 to $220.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Avery Dennison from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $210.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James restated an "outperform" rating and set a $208.00 price objective (down previously from $218.00) on shares of Avery Dennison in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup cut their price objective on Avery Dennison from $228.00 to $202.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Avery Dennison from $245.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Avery Dennison has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $227.15.

Avery Dennison Company Profile

Avery Dennison Corporation operates as a materials science and digital identification solutions company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Latin, America, and internationally. It provides pressure-sensitive materials comprising papers, plastic films, metal foils, and fabrics; performance tapes products, including tapes for wire harnessing, as well as cable wrapping for automotive, electrical, and general industrial applications; mechanical fasteners, which are precision-extruded and injection-molded plastic devices used in various automotive, general industrial, and retail applications; and other pressure-sensitive adhesive-based materials and converted products under the Fasson, JAC, Yongle, and Avery Dennison brands.