Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (NYSE:ERJ) Hits New 52-Week High - What's Next?

Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (NYSE:ERJ - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $56.77 and last traded at $56.93, with a volume of 419718 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $54.95.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on ERJ shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Wolfe Research reaffirmed a "peer perform" rating on shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica in a report on Monday, March 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a "sell" rating and set a $39.00 target price (up from $35.00) on shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $50.40.

Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The firm's fifty day moving average is $48.56 and its 200 day moving average is $44.90. The company has a market cap of $10.46 billion, a PE ratio of 26.36 and a beta of 1.68.

Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (NYSE:ERJ - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.19. Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 16.43%. The business had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.48) earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 23.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica will post 2.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.049 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 16th. Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 2.31%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ERJ. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 177,602 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $6,514,000 after acquiring an additional 8,938 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica during the 4th quarter worth approximately $243,000. Quantinno Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica during the 4th quarter worth approximately $227,000. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica by 8.1% in the fourth quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 6,298 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica by 132.0% in the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 158,496 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $5,814,000 after purchasing an additional 90,187 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 34.65% of the company's stock.

About Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica

Embraer SA designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Commercial Aviation; Defense & Security; Executive Aviation; Services & Support; and Other segments. The Commercial Aviation segment designs, develops, manufactures, and sells commercial jets, as well as leases aircraft.