Venturi Wealth Management LLC Grows Position in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)

Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW - Free Report) by 29.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,833 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC's holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $1,932,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Citizens & Northern Corp lifted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Citizens & Northern Corp now owns 1,649 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,738,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in W.W. Grainger by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 6,908 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $7,281,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC lifted its stake in W.W. Grainger by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 6,489 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $7,307,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 44.8% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,077 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,135,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 44.9% in the 4th quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 310 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $327,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. 80.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

W.W. Grainger Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of W.W. Grainger stock traded down $16.23 during trading on Friday, reaching $1,008.08. 285,074 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 297,396. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market cap of $49.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.17. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1 year low of $874.98 and a 1 year high of $1,227.66. The stock's fifty day moving average is $1,072.84 and its 200 day moving average is $1,072.39.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.75 by ($0.04). W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 52.43% and a net margin of 11.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $8.33 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be issued a $2.05 dividend. This represents a $8.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. W.W. Grainger's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.18%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on GWW. StockNews.com downgraded W.W. Grainger from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Northcoast Research began coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $990.00 to $1,215.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,113.00 to $1,112.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,125.00 to $1,100.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $1,148.56.

W.W. Grainger Company Profile

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.