Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) Reaches New 1-Year Low on Analyst Downgrade

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday after Citigroup lowered their price target on the stock from $350.00 to $283.00. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the stock. Rockwell Automation traded as low as $215.29 and last traded at $217.28, with a volume of 1258052 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $227.62.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Oppenheimer upped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Loop Capital increased their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $297.11.

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Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other news, VP Terry L. Riesterer sold 850 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.21, for a total transaction of $255,178.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,633 shares in the company, valued at approximately $490,242.93. The trade was a 34.23 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Matheus De A. G. Viera Bulho sold 293 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.68, for a total transaction of $75,500.24. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 1,922 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $495,260.96. The trade was a 13.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 3,750 shares of company stock worth $1,075,923 over the last three months. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ROK. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter valued at $284,177,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 29,844.4% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 702,794 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $181,588,000 after purchasing an additional 700,447 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 85,513.1% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 675,487 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $193,047,000 after purchasing an additional 674,698 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 102.3% during the fourth quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,287,731 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $368,021,000 after purchasing an additional 651,116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,115,280 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,033,476,000 after purchasing an additional 432,934 shares during the period. 75.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of $266.68 and a 200 day moving average of $276.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of $26.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.01, a P/E/G ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio is 65.26%.

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.