Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFB) Shares Down 6.2% - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Bel Fuse Inc. shares fell by 6.2% to $141.65, with trading volume declining by 13% from its average.
• Analysts have mixed ratings, with target prices ranging from $110.00 to $154.00, and an average price target of $136.80.
• The company has announced an increased quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share, payable on October 31st, up from the previous $0.06.

Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFB - Get Free Report)'s share price was down 6.2% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $141.88 and last traded at $141.65. Approximately 101,377 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 117,147 shares. The stock had previously closed at $150.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on BELFB. Northland Securities upped their price objective on shares of Bel Fuse from $93.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Bel Fuse from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on Bel Fuse from $116.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Baird R W upgraded Bel Fuse to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 10th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Bel Fuse from $140.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have assigned a Buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $136.80.

Bel Fuse Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 3.05 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The company's 50-day moving average price is $130.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.47.

Bel Fuse Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. This is an increase from Bel Fuse's previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 15th. Bel Fuse's dividend payout ratio is 6.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bel Fuse

In related news, VP Kenneth Koon Keung Lai sold 1,900 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.00, for a total value of $243,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 10,255 shares in the company, valued at $1,312,640. The trade was a 15.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Stephen Dawson sold 1,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.07, for a total value of $152,484.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 14,265 shares in the company, valued at $1,812,653.55. The trade was a 7.76% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 5.37% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bel Fuse

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Bel Fuse by 147.1% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 383 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Bel Fuse during the second quarter worth about $50,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Bel Fuse by 60.0% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,000 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $98,000 after buying an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in Bel Fuse by 437.8% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,038 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $101,000 after buying an additional 845 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of Bel Fuse by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,600 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $156,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.39% of the company's stock.

Bel Fuse Company Profile

Bel Fuse Inc designs, manufactures, markets, and sells products that power, protect, and connect electronic circuits. The company's products are used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation, and e-Mobility industries.