Makaira Partners LLC Takes Position in Bel Fuse Inc. $BELFB

Key Points

• Makaira Partners LLC acquired 245,999 shares of Bel Fuse Inc., valued at approximately $18.4 million, making it the fund's 8th largest position.
• Bel Fuse recently announced a quarterly dividend increase from $0.06 to $0.07 per share, reflecting a 0.2% yield.
• Analysts generally rate Bel Fuse as a Buy, with a consensus price target of $113.60 and recent price targets ranging up to $125.00.

Makaira Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFB - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 245,999 shares of the electronics maker's stock, valued at approximately $18,415,000. Bel Fuse comprises approximately 6.2% of Makaira Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Makaira Partners LLC owned approximately 1.94% of Bel Fuse as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BELFB. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new position in Bel Fuse during the first quarter worth $19,007,000. Brown Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Bel Fuse in the fourth quarter valued at $11,807,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in Bel Fuse by 55.4% in the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 398,123 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $32,821,000 after acquiring an additional 141,951 shares during the last quarter. Potrero Capital Research LLC lifted its stake in Bel Fuse by 107.1% in the fourth quarter. Potrero Capital Research LLC now owns 145,986 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $12,039,000 after acquiring an additional 75,483 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA acquired a new stake in Bel Fuse in the first quarter valued at $4,280,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.39% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of Bel Fuse from $116.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Northland Securities increased their price target on shares of Bel Fuse from $93.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, June 30th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Bel Fuse to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 10th. Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of Bel Fuse in a research note on Tuesday, June 10th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $88.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Bel Fuse from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have given a Buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $113.60.

Bel Fuse Stock Performance

Bel Fuse stock traded down $1.73 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $134.56. The company's stock had a trading volume of 90,388 shares, compared to its average volume of 143,158. Bel Fuse Inc. has a 1-year low of $57.99 and a 1-year high of $141.80. 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 has a 50-day moving average price of $116.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $89.60. The company has a market cap of $1.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.98, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.52.

Bel Fuse Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th will be paid a $0.07 dividend. This is a positive change from Bel Fuse's previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. Bel Fuse's dividend payout ratio is presently 6.86%.

Insider Activity

In other Bel Fuse news, insider Stephen Dawson sold 1,200 shares of Bel Fuse stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.07, for a total value of $152,484.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Kenneth Koon Keung Lai sold 1,900 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.00, for a total transaction of $243,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 10,255 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,312,640. The trade was a 15.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,100 shares of company stock valued at $731,804 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 5.37% of the company's stock.

Bel Fuse 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.