General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD) Shares Sold by Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA decreased its position in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 7,366,929 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 462,733 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned approximately 2.68% of General Dynamics worth $1,941,112,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Dynamics in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.14% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at General Dynamics

In other news, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at $2,857,224. This trade represents a 13.85 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 27,562 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.11, for a total transaction of $7,499,895.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 45,192 shares in the company, valued at $12,297,195.12. The trade was a 37.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.52% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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General Dynamics Trading Down 2.5 %

GD stock traded down $6.77 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $269.27. The stock had a trading volume of 1,416,683 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,316,021. General Dynamics Co. has a 12-month low of $239.87 and a 12-month high of $316.90. The firm has a market cap of $72.27 billion, a PE ratio of 19.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.43. The company's 50-day moving average price is $259.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $276.14. 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 (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 7.93% and a return on equity of 17.10%. On average, equities research analysts predict that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Dynamics declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback 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 typically an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Friday, April 11th will be given a dividend of $1.50 per share. This is a positive change from General Dynamics's previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.23%. General Dynamics's dividend payout ratio is 43.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on GD. Susquehanna upped their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $360.00 to $335.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Vertical Research lowered General Dynamics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $352.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on General Dynamics from $307.00 to $284.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on General Dynamics from $244.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $298.59.

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.