Handelsbanken Fonder AB Acquires 41,328 Shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its holdings in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC - Free Report) by 24.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 209,714 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 41,328 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned approximately 0.08% of McCormick & Company, Incorporated worth $15,989,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton bought a new position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the third quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the third quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.74% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at McCormick & Company, Incorporated

In related news, Director Margaret M. V. Preston sold 28,092 shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.03, for a total transaction of $2,163,926.76. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,177 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $475,814.31. This trade represents a 81.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 23.80% of the company's stock.

McCormick & Company, Incorporated Stock Up 2.2 %

McCormick & Company, Incorporated stock traded up $1.82 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $83.04. The company's stock had a trading volume of 914,334 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,945,777. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has a 52-week low of $66.88 and a 52-week high of $85.49. The company has a market cap of $22.27 billion, a PE ratio of 28.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The firm's 50 day moving average is $76.35 and its 200 day moving average is $78.46.

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The company reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.03. McCormick & Company, Incorporated had a return on equity of 14.89% and a net margin of 11.73%. On average, analysts anticipate that McCormick & Company, Incorporated will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded McCormick & Company, Incorporated from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $85.00 to $91.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Barclays decreased their price target on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 27th. TD Cowen raised McCormick & Company, Incorporated from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $86.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $83.75.

McCormick & Company, Incorporated Company Profile

McCormick & Co, Inc engages in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to retail outlets, food manufacturers, and foodservice businesses. It operates through the Consumer and Flavor Solutions segments. The Consumer segment sells spices, seasonings, condiments, and sauces.