Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Stock Holdings Lowered by Vontobel Holding Ltd.

Vontobel Holding Ltd. lessened its stake in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 10.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,122 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 2,276 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.'s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $5,465,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ROK. Creative Planning increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 25,927 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $6,960,000 after purchasing an additional 807 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 3.0% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 35,382 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $9,499,000 after acquiring an additional 1,033 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 17.8% during the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,637 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $976,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Claro Advisors LLC raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 145.4% during the third quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 4,153 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,014,000 after acquiring an additional 2,461 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 4.7% during the third quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,228 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $598,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.75% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE ROK traded down $1.88 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $299.27. 658,271 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 848,313. The business's 50-day moving average price is $286.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $276.50. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a twelve month low of $242.81 and a twelve month high of $308.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $33.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.35.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 30.17%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.75%. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio is presently 65.26%.

Insider Activity at Rockwell Automation

In related news, SVP Cyril Perducat sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $300,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 3,630 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,089,000. This represents a 21.60 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Terry L. Riesterer sold 850 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.21, for a total transaction of $255,178.50. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,633 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $490,242.93. The trade was a 34.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 36,240 shares of company stock valued at $10,800,555 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on ROK. BNP Paribas cut shares of Rockwell Automation from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $290.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $345.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $313.00 price target for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Rockwell Automation presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $308.05.

Rockwell Automation 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.