John Bean Technologies (NYSE:JBT) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Should You Buy?

John Bean Technologies Co. (NYSE:JBT - Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 165,191 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 42% from the previous session's volume of 286,018 shares.The stock last traded at $122.27 and had previously closed at $122.25.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on JBT. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of John Bean Technologies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $130.00 price target for the company. CJS Securities began coverage on shares of John Bean Technologies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $150.00 price objective for the company.

John Bean Technologies Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 2.55. The company's 50-day moving average price is $114.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $101.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.85 billion, a PE ratio of 22.45, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.24.

John Bean Technologies (NYSE:JBT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The industrial products company reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.09. John Bean Technologies had a return on equity of 10.16% and a net margin of 10.25%. The business had revenue of $453.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $442.20 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.11 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that John Bean Technologies Co. will post 5.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

John Bean Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.33%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. John Bean Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.42%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Bean Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of John Bean Technologies by 113.2% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 324 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in John Bean Technologies in the third quarter worth about $39,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $73,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new position in shares of John Bean Technologies in the second quarter worth approximately $85,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.92% of the company's stock.

About John Bean Technologies

John Bean Technologies Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market.