General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) Downgraded by BTIG Research to "Neutral"

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at BTIG Research from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on General Dynamics from $279.00 to $276.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $337.00 to $281.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $303.00 to $295.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $283.00 price objective (down from $345.00) on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Wolfe Research cut General Dynamics from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $298.59.

General Dynamics Stock Down 1.7 %

GD traded down $4.18 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $241.98. 2,762,958 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,659,087. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $66.54 billion, a PE ratio of 17.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.61. General Dynamics has a one year low of $239.87 and a one year high of $316.90. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $261.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $284.09.

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

General Dynamics declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, December 4th that allows the company to repurchase 10,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization allows the aerospace company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other General Dynamics news, VP Christopher J. Brady sold 5,540 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.91, for a total transaction of $1,556,241.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 20,296 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,701,349.36. This trade represents a 21.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total transaction of $459,201.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,857,224. The trade was a 13.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.52% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in General Dynamics by 2.3% during the third quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 1,482 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $448,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners boosted its holdings in shares of General Dynamics by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 178 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 1.6% in the third quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,223 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $672,000 after buying an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC raised its position in General Dynamics by 3.8% during the third quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC now owns 955 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank N.A. lifted its stake in General Dynamics by 0.6% in the third quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 5,461 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,650,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.14% of the company's stock.

General Dynamics Company Profile

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.