Axecap Investments LLC Has $3.12 Million Position in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Axecap Investments LLC increased its position in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 9.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,853 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,028 shares during the quarter. General Dynamics comprises approximately 2.4% of Axecap Investments LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Axecap Investments LLC's holdings in General Dynamics were worth $3,123,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter worth about $4,119,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new position in General Dynamics during the fourth quarter worth about $80,000. Arlington Partners LLC grew its position in General Dynamics by 7.6% during the fourth quarter. Arlington Partners LLC now owns 15,256 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $4,020,000 after buying an additional 1,083 shares during the period. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. raised its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 14,818 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $3,904,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the period. Finally, Soltis Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,413 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $4,061,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.14% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $290.00 to $280.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Wolfe Research downgraded General Dynamics from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on General Dynamics from $307.00 to $284.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on General Dynamics from $245.00 to $241.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Vertical Research cut General Dynamics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $352.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, General Dynamics currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $298.59.

General Dynamics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GD traded up $0.58 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $256.92. 1,095,554 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,642,098. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.82. General Dynamics Co. has a twelve month low of $247.01 and a twelve month high of $316.90. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $264.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $285.32. The company has a market cap of $70.65 billion, a PE ratio of 18.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.61.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.10% and a net margin of 7.93%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Dynamics Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 17th were issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 17th. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. General Dynamics's payout ratio is 41.64%.

General Dynamics declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, December 4th that authorizes the company to buyback 10,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the aerospace company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at General Dynamics

In related news, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total value of $459,201.28. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,175 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,857,224. This represents a 13.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Christopher J. Brady sold 5,540 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.91, for a total value of $1,556,241.40. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 20,296 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,701,349.36. This represents a 21.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.52% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.