GATX (NYSE:GATX) Reaches New 1-Year High - Here's What Happened

GATX Co. (NYSE:GATX - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $168.89 and last traded at $167.65, with a volume of 21118 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $165.39.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on GATX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on GATX in a report on Monday, November 18th. They set a "buy" rating and a $185.00 price target on the stock. Sidoti downgraded GATX from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $158.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, December 4th.

GATX Stock Performance

The company's 50-day moving average price is $159.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $148.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.37, a quick ratio of 3.41 and a current ratio of 2.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.75 billion, a PE ratio of 20.84 and a beta of 0.99.

GATX (NYSE:GATX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.25. GATX had a net margin of 17.92% and a return on equity of 12.07%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.74 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that GATX Co. will post 8.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

GATX Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.51%. This is a boost from GATX's previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. GATX's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Jeffery R. Young sold 297 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.63, for a total transaction of $48,895.11. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 7,362 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,212,006.06. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Robert Zmudka sold 4,800 shares of GATX stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.83, for a total value of $786,384.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,227,578.19. The trade was a 39.05 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of GATX

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in GATX by 60.4% during the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 178 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in GATX by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 10,692 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,418,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC grew its position in GATX by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,584 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its position in GATX by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 919 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $142,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in GATX by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,816 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,521,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. 93.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

GATX Company Profile

GATX Corporation, together its subsidiaries, operates as railcar leasing company in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and India. It operates through three segments: Rail North America, Rail International, and Portfolio Management. The company leases tank and freight railcars, and locomotives for petroleum, chemical, food/agriculture, and transportation industries.