Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Acquires Shares of 37,269 Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new position in Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TPB - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 37,269 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,240,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.21% of Turning Point Brands at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Turning Point Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $96,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in Turning Point Brands by 115.5% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 23,068 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,386,000 after acquiring an additional 12,364 shares in the last quarter. Virtus Fund Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Turning Point Brands in the fourth quarter worth $48,000. Virtus Investment Advisers Inc. bought a new position in shares of Turning Point Brands during the fourth quarter valued at $529,000. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its position in shares of Turning Point Brands by 65.4% during the fourth quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 62,663 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,766,000 after buying an additional 24,787 shares during the last quarter. 96.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Turning Point Brands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on shares of Turning Point Brands from $65.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Industrial Alliance Securities set a $85.00 price objective on shares of Turning Point Brands in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, Alliance Global Partners initiated coverage on shares of Turning Point Brands in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $80.00 target price for the company. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $76.67.

Turning Point Brands Stock Performance

NYSE TPB traded up $0.70 on Wednesday, reaching $74.94. 232,575 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 173,439. The company has a current ratio of 4.21, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. Turning Point Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $30.61 and a one year high of $81.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.34 billion, a PE ratio of 29.74 and a beta of 0.69. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $64.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $62.69.

Turning Point Brands (NYSE:TPB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.16. Turning Point Brands had a return on equity of 33.14% and a net margin of 11.63%. The company had revenue of $106.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $95.75 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.63 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Turning Point Brands, Inc. will post 2.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Turning Point Brands Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 20th will be given a dividend of $0.075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 20th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.40%. Turning Point Brands's payout ratio is 13.16%.

Insider Transactions at Turning Point Brands

In related news, Director Gregory H.A. Baxter sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.64, for a total transaction of $110,460.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 40,419 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,976,455.16. This represents a 3.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Brian Wigginton sold 3,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.75, for a total transaction of $265,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 10,171 shares in the company, valued at approximately $770,453.25. This trade represents a 25.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 6.60% of the company's stock.

About Turning Point Brands

Turning Point Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes branded consumer products. The company operates through three segments: Zig-Zag Products, Stoker's Products, and Creative Distribution Solutions. Zig-Zag Products segment markets and distributes rolling papers, tubes, finished cigars, make-your-own cigar wraps, and related products, as well as lighters and other accessories under the Zig-Zag brand.