Schechter Investment Advisors LLC Has $1.48 Million Stake in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Schechter Investment Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 14.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,626 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 984 shares during the period. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in General Dynamics were worth $1,482,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in General Dynamics during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in General Dynamics during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in General Dynamics in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other General Dynamics news, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total value of $459,201.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,857,224. This trade represents a 13.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.52% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

General Dynamics Price Performance

NYSE:GD traded down $3.36 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $250.68. The stock had a trading volume of 2,013,286 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,727,237. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $258.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $280.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.82. General Dynamics Co. has a 12 month low of $239.87 and a 12 month high of $316.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.77 billion, a PE ratio of 18.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.61.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.10% and a net margin of 7.93%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.83 earnings per share for the current year.

General Dynamics announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, December 4th that allows the company to buyback 10,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the aerospace company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

General Dynamics Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th were issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 17th. General Dynamics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.64%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on GD shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on General Dynamics from $307.00 to $284.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $283.00 price objective (down from $345.00) on shares of General Dynamics in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. William Blair downgraded shares of General Dynamics from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $315.00 to $300.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, BTIG Research cut General Dynamics from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $296.71.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.