Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Stock Price Down 2.9% - Here's Why

Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report)'s share price was down 2.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $170.71 and last traded at $171.98. Approximately 2,335,000 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 12,663,042 shares. The stock had previously closed at $177.19.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on ORCL shares. StockNews.com raised shares of Oracle from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Oracle from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. JMP Securities reissued a "market outperform" rating and set a $205.00 price target on shares of Oracle in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $165.00 price target on shares of Oracle in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Oracle from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $182.73.

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Oracle Trading Down 0.2 %

The firm's 50 day moving average is $169.33 and its 200 day moving average is $165.59. The company has a market cap of $485.27 billion, a PE ratio of 42.42, a PEG ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, December 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.01). Oracle had a net margin of 21.16% and a return on equity of 133.25%. The company had revenue of $14.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.34 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Oracle Co. will post 5 earnings per share for the current year.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 23rd were issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 10th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.92%. Oracle's payout ratio is 39.12%.

Insider Transactions at Oracle

In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 345,174 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.56, for a total value of $64,050,487.44. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,118,592 shares of the company's stock, valued at $207,565,931.52. The trade was a 23.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 42.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Activest Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Oracle by 21.9% in the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 312 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Second Line Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Oracle by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Second Line Capital LLC now owns 3,816 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $650,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Cadence Bank grew its position in shares of Oracle by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 7,605 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $1,296,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Requisite Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Oracle by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Requisite Capital Management LLC now owns 2,240 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $373,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Oracle by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 1,423 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. 42.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Oracle Company Profile

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.