WCM Investment Management LLC Has $1.81 Million Stock Holdings in MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM)

WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM - Free Report) by 360.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,760 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 16,251 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC's holdings in MSC Industrial Direct were worth $1,808,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quent Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 57.0% in the third quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 372 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 2.4% in the third quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 6,925 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $596,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 6.5% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,833 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $244,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 12,609 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,000,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in MSC Industrial Direct by 442.1% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 309 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. 79.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MSC Industrial Direct Stock Performance

NYSE MSM traded down $0.58 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $89.60. 764,470 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 581,422. The business's 50 day moving average is $82.46 and its 200-day moving average is $83.58. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has a 1 year low of $75.05 and a 1 year high of $104.76. The company has a market capitalization of $5.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.70 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.96.

MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08 by ($0.05). MSC Industrial Direct had a return on equity of 19.35% and a net margin of 6.77%. The company had revenue of $952.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $959.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.64 EPS. MSC Industrial Direct's revenue was down 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 3.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSC Industrial Direct Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 13th will be issued a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 13th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.79%. This is an increase from MSC Industrial Direct's previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. MSC Industrial Direct's dividend payout ratio is presently 72.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $87.00 to $73.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $84.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $90.20.

MSC Industrial Direct Profile

MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.