Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Lowers Position in Ennis, Inc. (NYSE:EBF)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lowered its stake in Ennis, Inc. (NYSE:EBF - Free Report) by 2.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,038,643 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 51,433 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 7.84% of Ennis worth $42,995,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Ennis during the 4th quarter worth $65,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Ennis by 8,888.9% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,045 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 4,000 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Ennis by 46.0% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 6,194 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $131,000 after purchasing an additional 1,951 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its position in Ennis by 10.3% in the 4th quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 7,099 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $150,000 after buying an additional 663 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EMC Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Ennis by 355.3% during the 4th quarter. EMC Capital Management now owns 9,848 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $208,000 after buying an additional 7,685 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.33% of the company's stock.

Ennis Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EBF traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $19.06. 26,874 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 150,803. The business's 50-day moving average price is $19.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.46. Ennis, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.15 and a 12 month high of $25.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $495.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.99 and a beta of 0.46.

Ennis (NYSE:EBF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.02). Ennis had a net margin of 10.35% and a return on equity of 12.16%. The business had revenue of $92.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $95.60 million.

Ennis Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 14th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 14th. Ennis's payout ratio is 64.52%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Michael J. Schaefer sold 5,253 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.09, for a total value of $95,026.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 44,734 shares in the company, valued at approximately $809,238.06. The trade was a 10.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders sold 19,873 shares of company stock valued at $357,330 in the last three months. Company insiders own 3.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Ennis from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd.

About Ennis

Ennis, Inc manufactures and sells business forms and other business products in the United States. The company offers snap sets, continuous forms, laser cut sheets, tags, labels, envelopes, integrated products, jumbo rolls, and pressure sensitive products under the Ennis, Royal Business Forms, Block Graphics, 360º Custom Labels, ColorWorx, Enfusion, Uncompromised Check Solutions, VersaSeal, Ad Concepts, FormSource Limited, Star Award Ribbon Company, Witt Printing, B&D Litho, Genforms, PrintGraphics, Calibrated Forms, PrintXcel, Printegra, Forms Manufacturers, Mutual Graphics, TRI-C Business Forms, Major Business Systems, Independent Printing, Hoosier Data Forms, Hayes Graphics, Wright Business Graphics, Wright 360, Integrated Print & Graphics, the Flesh Company, Impressions Direct, and AmeriPrint brands.