Zacks Investment Management Has $74.80 Million Position in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Zacks Investment Management reduced its position in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 10.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 283,874 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 31,769 shares during the period. Zacks Investment Management owned 0.10% of General Dynamics worth $74,798,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of GD. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of General Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of General Dynamics during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.14% of the company's stock.

General Dynamics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GD traded down $0.93 during trading on Friday, reaching $275.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,721,990 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,360,450. General Dynamics Co. has a twelve month low of $239.20 and a twelve month high of $316.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.43. The firm's fifty day moving average is $261.54 and its 200 day moving average is $273.10.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.10% and a net margin of 7.93%. On average, equities analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.83 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be given a $1.50 dividend. This is a positive change from General Dynamics's previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. General Dynamics's payout ratio is 43.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on GD shares. UBS Group decreased their price target on General Dynamics from $337.00 to $281.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Barclays lowered their price target on General Dynamics from $305.00 to $285.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of General Dynamics from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $315.00 to $305.00 in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $307.00 to $284.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, William Blair lowered shares of General Dynamics from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $294.47.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 27,562 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.11, for a total value of $7,499,895.82. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 45,192 shares in the company, valued at $12,297,195.12. This represents a 37.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total value of $459,201.28. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at $2,857,224. This represents a 13.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

General Dynamics Company Profile

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.