Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN) Hits New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Shares of Nordson Co. (NASDAQ:NDSN - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $221.99 and last traded at $222.64, with a volume of 74502 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $224.01.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on NDSN shares. DA Davidson dropped their price target on shares of Nordson from $295.00 to $285.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $237.00 target price (down previously from $294.00) on shares of Nordson in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Baird R W cut Nordson from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn raised Nordson from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $279.00.

Nordson Stock Performance

The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $252.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $245.57. The company has a market capitalization of $12.17 billion, a PE ratio of 26.24, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 11th. The industrial products company reported $2.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $744.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $736.83 million. Nordson had a return on equity of 20.12% and a net margin of 17.37%. Nordson's revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.46 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Nordson Co. will post 10.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Nordson

In related news, EVP Jennifer L. Mcdonough sold 225 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $262.27, for a total value of $59,010.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,287 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $862,081.49. This represents a 6.41 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen Lovass sold 317 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.75, for a total value of $82,657.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,666 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,738,159.50. The trade was a 4.54 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,629 shares of company stock valued at $914,400. Insiders own 0.86% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Nordson by 13.2% during the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 173,373 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $45,533,000 after buying an additional 20,217 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Nordson by 23.6% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 321,742 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $84,499,000 after acquiring an additional 61,430 shares during the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC grew its stake in Nordson by 47.5% in the 3rd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 15,677 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $4,117,000 after acquiring an additional 5,046 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP raised its holdings in Nordson by 113.8% in the 3rd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 29,170 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $7,661,000 after acquiring an additional 15,524 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its stake in shares of Nordson by 15.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 16,861 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,911,000 after purchasing an additional 2,194 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.11% of the company's stock.

Nordson Company Profile

Nordson Corporation engineers, manufactures, and markets products and systems to dispense, apply, and control adhesives, coatings, polymers, sealants, biomaterials, and other fluids worldwide. It operates through three segments: Industrial Precision Solutions; Medical and Fluid Solutions; and Advanced Technology Solutions.