Natural Investments LLC Buys Shares of 2,832 Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW)

Natural Investments LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 2,832 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $718,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1,060.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 116 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Asset Planning Inc bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 79.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $255.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $300.00 to $295.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $279.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Illinois Tool Works from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $257.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $269.10.

Remove Ads

Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 4.7 %

Shares of Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $255.05 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.56 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The company's fifty day moving average price is $257.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.36. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $232.77 and a 52-week high of $279.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.04. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 21.94% and a return on equity of 95.39%. On average, analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 EPS for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.35%. Illinois Tool Works's dividend payout ratio is presently 51.19%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Christopher A. O'herlihy sold 48,453 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.36, for a total transaction of $13,293,565.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 55,113 shares in the company, valued at $15,120,802.68. This represents a 46.78 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Ernest Scott Santi sold 70,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.30, for a total transaction of $18,431,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 260,224 shares in the company, valued at approximately $68,516,979.20. This trade represents a 21.20 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 159,925 shares of company stock worth $42,973,845. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the company's stock.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.