Securian Asset Management Inc. Has $9.70 Million Stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE)

Securian Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in General Electric (NYSE:GE - Free Report) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 58,168 shares of the conglomerate's stock after selling 1,803 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in General Electric were worth $9,702,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. bought a new position in General Electric during the third quarter worth $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the third quarter valued at about $28,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new stake in General Electric during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in General Electric during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. 74.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

General Electric Price Performance

Shares of General Electric stock traded up $4.97 during trading on Friday, reaching $197.39. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,261,093 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,304,231. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $195.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $183.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. General Electric has a one year low of $131.91 and a one year high of $212.19.

General Electric (NYSE:GE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.27. General Electric had a net margin of 14.31% and a return on equity of 22.19%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 5.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. This is a boost from General Electric's previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.73%. General Electric's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on GE. Bank of America lifted their price objective on General Electric from $200.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of General Electric from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of General Electric in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of General Electric in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $250.00 price target for the company. Finally, Northcoast Research started coverage on shares of General Electric in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. They set a "neutral" rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, General Electric has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $211.31.

About General Electric

General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, designs and produces commercial and defense aircraft engines, integrated engine components, electric power, and mechanical aircraft systems. It also offers aftermarket services to support its products. The company operates in the United States, Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.