Gateway Investment Advisers LLC reduced its position in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW - Free Report) by 25.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,116 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 381 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $1,176,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Edgestream Partners L.P. bought a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,098,000. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the second quarter worth approximately $410,000. MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the second quarter worth approximately $257,000. Ieq Capital LLC grew its position in W.W. Grainger by 7.3% during the second quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 2,714 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,449,000 after buying an additional 185 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 18.1% during the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 3,135 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,829,000 after buying an additional 481 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.70% of the company's stock.
Insider Activity at W.W. Grainger
In related news, VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,206.03, for a total value of $150,753.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 675 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $814,070.25. This trade represents a 15.63 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 9,577 shares of W.W. Grainger stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,117.84, for a total value of $10,705,553.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,379 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,895,021.36. This represents a 68.62 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 10,406 shares of company stock valued at $11,634,643. 9.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
GWW has been the topic of several analyst reports. Oppenheimer cut shares of W.W. Grainger from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Robert W. Baird upgraded W.W. Grainger from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $975.00 to $1,230.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Loop Capital upped their price target on W.W. Grainger from $900.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,018.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on W.W. Grainger in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $1,280.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,140.56.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GWW
W.W. Grainger Price Performance
Shares of NYSE:GWW traded up $2.70 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $1,113.05. 697,483 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 211,983. The stock has a market cap of $54.21 billion, a PE ratio of 30.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.18. The business's fifty day moving average is $1,133.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,051.69. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a one year low of $855.01 and a one year high of $1,227.66. The company has a current ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59.
W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.98 by ($0.11). W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 51.78% and a net margin of 10.80%. The firm had revenue of $4.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $9.43 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 38.97 earnings per share for the current year.
W.W. Grainger Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 11th were given a dividend of $2.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.74%. W.W. Grainger's dividend payout ratio is currently 22.23%.
About W.W. Grainger
(
Free Report)
W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.
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