Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Trims Position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Nixon Peabody Trust Co. cut its stake in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 70.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,546 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 27,710 shares during the period. Nixon Peabody Trust Co.'s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $3,300,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Prospera Financial Services Inc raised its stake in Rockwell Automation by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 4,033 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,083,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 4,195 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,199,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $386,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. now owns 1,082 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $309,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 2.2% in the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 1,928 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Rockwell Automation Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of ROK traded up $5.92 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $273.79. 744,139 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 827,855. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stock's 50-day moving average is $285.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $278.73. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 12 month low of $242.81 and a 12 month high of $308.70. The stock has a market cap of $30.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 30.17% and a net margin of 11.38%. Research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.26%.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 278 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total value of $83,967.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,184 shares of the company's stock, valued at $961,695.36. The trade was a 8.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 1,231 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.43, for a total value of $351,364.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 3,650 shares in the company, valued at $1,041,819.50. This trade represents a 25.22 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 9,147 shares of company stock valued at $2,680,378. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. KeyCorp upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a "sector weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $345.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, December 9th. HSBC raised Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $355.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Rockwell Automation from $245.00 to $240.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their target price on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rockwell Automation currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $307.55.

Rockwell Automation Company Profile

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.