Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI) Downgraded to Hold Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on HI. DA Davidson reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $33.00 target price on shares of Hillenbrand in a report on Friday, November 15th. KeyCorp reduced their price target on Hillenbrand from $45.00 to $40.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 14th.

Hillenbrand Stock Performance

Shares of HI stock traded up $2.12 on Thursday, hitting $33.42. 756,407 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 430,016. The firm's 50 day moving average is $32.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.65. Hillenbrand has a one year low of $25.11 and a one year high of $50.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.35 billion, a PE ratio of -10.64 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33.

Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.02. Hillenbrand had a negative net margin of 7.12% and a positive return on equity of 15.00%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.69 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Hillenbrand will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hillenbrand Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were issued a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. This is a positive change from Hillenbrand's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Hillenbrand's dividend payout ratio is -28.66%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Matrix Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Hillenbrand in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Hillenbrand in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. YANKCOM Partnership bought a new position in shares of Hillenbrand in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Hillenbrand by 107.5% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,185 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 614 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kennebec Savings Bank bought a new stake in shares of Hillenbrand during the 3rd quarter worth $48,000. 89.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Hillenbrand Company Profile

Hillenbrand, Inc operates as an industrial company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Advanced Process Solutions and Molding Technology Solutions. The Advanced Process Solutions segment designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and services process and material handling equipment and systems comprising compounding, extrusion, and material handling equipment, equipment system design services, as well as offers mixing technology, ingredient automation, and portion process; and provides screening and separating equipment for various industries, including plastics, food and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers, minerals, energy, wastewater treatment, forest products, and other general industrials.