Allianz Asset Management GmbH Sells 21,283 Shares of BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ)

Key Points

• Allianz Asset Management GmbH significantly reduced its stake in BJ's Wholesale Club by 84.2%, selling 21,283 shares and retaining only 3,983 shares valued at $454,000.
• The company's earnings per share for the last quarter was $1.14, exceeding analysts' expectations of $0.91, although revenue of $5.15 billion was slightly below the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion.
• Despite recent insider selling, analysts maintain a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for BJ's Wholesale Club, with a target price of approximately $111.00.

Allianz Asset Management GmbH lowered its position in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ - Free Report) by 84.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,983 shares of the company's stock after selling 21,283 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH's holdings in BJ's Wholesale Club were worth $454,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club by 66.5% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 288 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. HM Payson & Co. bought a new position in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club during the first quarter worth approximately $41,000. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club during the first quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of BJ's Wholesale Club during the first quarter worth approximately $51,000. Institutional investors own 98.60% of the company's stock.

BJ's Wholesale Club Trading Up 3.9%

Shares of BJ stock opened at $110.01 on Friday. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $108.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $109.26. The company has a market cap of $14.53 billion, a PE ratio of 25.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.43. BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $76.33 and a fifty-two week high of $121.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a current ratio of 0.77.

BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 22nd. The company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $5.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.18 billion. BJ's Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 31.98% and a net margin of 2.76%. The company's revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.85 EPS. Equities analysts predict that BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. will post 3.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at BJ's Wholesale Club

In related news, EVP Paul Cichocki sold 43,825 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.65, for a total transaction of $4,673,936.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 172,563 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,403,843.95. This trade represents a 20.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven L. Ortega acquired 1,740 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $114.60 per share, for a total transaction of $199,404.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 8,641 shares in the company, valued at $990,258.60. This represents a 25.21% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 79,625 shares of company stock valued at $8,595,110. 1.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BJ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on BJ's Wholesale Club from $109.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Loop Capital reissued a "hold" rating and set a $120.00 price target (up previously from $110.00) on shares of BJ's Wholesale Club in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Citigroup increased their price target on BJ's Wholesale Club from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $135.00 price target (up previously from $129.00) on shares of BJ's Wholesale Club in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price target on BJ's Wholesale Club from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BJ's Wholesale Club presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $111.00.

BJ's Wholesale Club Profile

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc engages in the operation of membership warehouse clubs. Its product categories include grocery, household and pet, television and electronics, furniture, computer and tablets, patio and outdoor living, lawn and garden, baby and kids, toys, home, health and beauty, appliances, and jewelry.

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