Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Trading Down 3% - What's Next?

Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) was down 3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $141.02 and last traded at $141.37. Approximately 3,293,001 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 61% from the average daily volume of 8,521,099 shares. The stock had previously closed at $145.78.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ORCL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Oracle to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Oracle from $210.00 to $190.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Oracle from $212.00 to $202.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Oracle from $175.00 to $170.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of Oracle in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $179.20.

Oracle Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $163.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $170.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The stock has a market cap of $393.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.41, a P/E/G ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.07.

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Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 10th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.49 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $14.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.40 billion. Oracle had a net margin of 21.16% and a return on equity of 133.25%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.41 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Oracle Co. will post 5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Oracle Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 10th will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 10th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.42%. This is a positive change from Oracle's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Oracle's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.95%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 2,101,154 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.35, for a total value of $389,448,893.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,118,592 shares in the company, valued at $207,331,027.20. This trade represents a 65.26 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 42.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oracle

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Oracle in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Oracle in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Oracle by 89.7% during the fourth quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 184 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Hurley Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Oracle in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Synergy Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Oracle in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 42.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.