Gateway Investment Advisers LLC lessened its holdings in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW - Free Report) by 25.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,116 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 381 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC's holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $1,176,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in W.W. Grainger by 250.0% in the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 28 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 111.1% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 38.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 50 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the period. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in W.W. Grainger in the 3rd quarter worth $75,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.70% of the company's stock.
In other news, CFO Deidra C. Merriwether sold 704 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,105.59, for a total value of $778,335.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 9,509 shares in the company, valued at $10,513,055.31. This trade represents a 6.89 % 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 Laurie R. Thomson sold 125 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,206.03, for a total value of $150,753.75. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $814,070.25. The trade was a 15.63 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 10,406 shares of company stock valued at $11,634,643. Company insiders own 9.50% of the company's stock.
A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research raised W.W. Grainger to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, September 22nd. Robert W. Baird raised W.W. Grainger from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their target price for the company from $975.00 to $1,230.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on W.W. Grainger from $990.00 to $1,215.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Northcoast Research assumed coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research note on Monday, October 7th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $925.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $1,140.56.
Read Our Latest Report on GWW
Shares of W.W. Grainger stock traded up $2.70 on Friday, reaching $1,113.05. 697,483 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 211,983. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1-year low of $855.01 and a 1-year high of $1,227.66. The firm has a market cap of $54.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.59. The company's 50-day moving average is $1,133.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,051.69.
W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.87 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.98 by ($0.11). W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 51.78%. The firm had revenue of $4.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $9.43 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 38.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 11th were paid a $2.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $8.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.74%. W.W. Grainger's payout ratio is 22.23%.
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.
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