Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) Stock Price Down 0.3% on Disappointing Earnings

Shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG - Get Free Report) were down 0.3% during mid-day trading on Friday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as low as $157.77 and last traded at $159.06. Approximately 3,590,736 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 49% from the average daily volume of 7,083,420 shares. The stock had previously closed at $159.53.

The company reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.57 by ($0.03). Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 33.00% and a net margin of 18.35%. The business had revenue of $19.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.42 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.52 EPS.

Procter & Gamble Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 21st will be issued a $1.0568 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 21st. This is a boost from Procter & Gamble's previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.62%. Procter & Gamble's payout ratio is currently 66.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $181.00 to $172.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $209.00 price target on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Procter & Gamble currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $180.79.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 18,000 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.66, for a total value of $3,089,880.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 22,051 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,785,274.66. The trade was a 44.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PG. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 933.3% during the 4th quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 155 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the period. Navigoe LLC acquired a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Procter & Gamble in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hoey Investments Inc. lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 321.7% in the fourth quarter. Hoey Investments Inc. now owns 194 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the company's stock.

Procter & Gamble Trading Up 0.9 %

The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $168.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $168.32. The company has a market cap of $377.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 0.43.

About Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble Co engages in the provision of branded consumer packaged goods. It operates through the following segments: Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric and Home Care, and Baby, Feminine and Family Care. The Beauty segment offers hair, skin, and personal care. The Grooming segment consists of shave care like female and male blades and razors, pre and post shave products, and appliances.