Trexquant Investment LP Grows Stock Position in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG)

Trexquant Investment LP raised its position in shares of Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG - Free Report) by 462.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 63,923 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 52,549 shares during the quarter. Trexquant Investment LP's holdings in Graco were worth $5,388,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Graco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Graco by 118.0% during the 4th quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 351 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the period. National Pension Service bought a new position in Graco during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Graco in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group increased its stake in Graco by 39.1% in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 484 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. 93.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Graco Trading Down 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE:GGG traded down $2.30 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $76.70. 348,541 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 798,381. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $83.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $85.26. Graco Inc. has a 12-month low of $72.06 and a 12-month high of $92.86. The stock has a market cap of $12.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.92.

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Graco (NYSE:GGG - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.77 by ($0.13). Graco had a net margin of 23.00% and a return on equity of 19.38%. As a group, analysts expect that Graco Inc. will post 3.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Graco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Investors of record on Monday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 14th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. Graco's payout ratio is currently 39.01%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Graco from $93.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. BNP Paribas upgraded Graco from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $105.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, DA Davidson set a $85.00 target price on Graco in a report on Friday, January 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $93.00.

Graco Profile

Graco Inc designs, manufactures, and markets systems and equipment used to move, measure, control, dispense, and spray fluid and powder materials worldwide. The Contractor segment offers sprayers to apply paint to walls and other structures; two-component proportioning systems that are used to spray polyurethane foam and polyurea coatings; and viscous coatings to roofs, as well as markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields, and floors.