Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Sells 1,893 Shares of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc trimmed its stake in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI - Free Report) by 10.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,150 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 1,893 shares during the quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc's holdings in Armstrong World Industries were worth $2,282,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in AWI. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,648,141 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $656,922,000 after acquiring an additional 34,579 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 887,358 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $125,444,000 after purchasing an additional 35,738 shares during the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. boosted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 140.4% during the fourth quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 666,000 shares of the construction company's stock worth $94,126,000 after purchasing an additional 389,000 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 267.1% in the fourth quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 532,602 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $75,273,000 after purchasing an additional 387,537 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the fourth quarter valued at about $75,242,000. Institutional investors own 98.93% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on AWI shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com lowered Armstrong World Industries from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, March 6th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $150.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Loop Capital decreased their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Armstrong World Industries currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $157.57.

Armstrong World Industries Trading Down 1.5%

Shares of AWI traded down $2.35 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $157.15. 18,586 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 275,120. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $142.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.82 billion, a PE ratio of 27.72, a PEG ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.36. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $110.68 and a 52 week high of $164.40.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The construction company reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $382.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $370.71 million. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 17.95% and a return on equity of 40.67%. Armstrong World Industries's revenue for the quarter was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.38 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 8th will be paid a $0.308 dividend. This represents a $1.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 8th. Armstrong World Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.68%.

Armstrong World Industries Company Profile

Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers mineral fiber, fiberglass wool, metal, wood, felt, wood fiber, and glass-reinforced-gypsum; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings, walls, and facades for use in commercial settings; and manufactures ceiling suspension system (grid) products.