EULAV Asset Management Increases Holdings in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR)

EULAV Asset Management raised its position in shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR - Free Report) by 25.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 288,125 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 58,599 shares during the quarter. AptarGroup accounts for about 1.1% of EULAV Asset Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. EULAV Asset Management owned 0.43% of AptarGroup worth $45,264,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in AptarGroup in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 446.5% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 235 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank lifted its position in AptarGroup by 312.0% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 342 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. Park Place Capital Corp bought a new position in AptarGroup during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $67,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in AptarGroup by 79.6% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 598 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $96,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares during the last quarter. 88.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Kimberly Chainey sold 964 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.83, for a total value of $162,752.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,848 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,324,977.84. The trade was a 10.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on ATR shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of AptarGroup from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday. Raymond James reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $190.00 target price (down previously from $200.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Monday. Dbs Bank upgraded AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $155.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of AptarGroup from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $173.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $181.60.

AptarGroup Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATR traded down $0.92 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $142.36. 377,346 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 357,465. AptarGroup, Inc. has a 52 week low of $134.57 and a 52 week high of $178.03. The firm has a market cap of $9.47 billion, a PE ratio of 25.70, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.59. The company's 50 day moving average price is $159.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $159.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.15.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 15.62%. On average, equities analysts expect that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AptarGroup Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 5th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.26%. AptarGroup's dividend payout ratio is presently 32.49%.

AptarGroup Company Profile

AptarGroup, Inc designs and manufactures a range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active material science solutions and services for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through Aptar Pharma, Aptar Beauty, and Aptar Closures segments.