Aurora Investment Counsel Acquires Shares of 7,102 Armstrong World Industries, Inc. $AWI

Key Points

• Aurora Investment Counsel acquired 7,102 shares of Armstrong World Industries, valued at approximately $1,154,000, in the second quarter, reflecting continued interest from institutional investors.
• Armstrong World Industries reported $1.36 earnings per share and had a revenue of $325 million for the last quarter, with analysts forecasting an annual EPS of 6.18.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.308 per share, with a dividend yield of 0.6% and a payout ratio of 18.20%.

Aurora Investment Counsel acquired a new stake in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 7,102 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $1,154,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AWI. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 131.4% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 440,519 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $62,060,000 after acquiring an additional 250,133 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 34.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 680,622 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $95,886,000 after acquiring an additional 172,779 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in Armstrong World Industries in the first quarter valued at approximately $23,449,000. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Armstrong World Industries in the first quarter valued at approximately $21,301,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 91.7% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 248,363 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $34,296,000 after acquiring an additional 118,830 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.93% of the company's stock.

Armstrong World Industries Stock Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:AWI opened at $201.13 on Tuesday. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a 1 year low of $122.37 and a 1 year high of $202.07. The company has a market capitalization of $8.70 billion, a PE ratio of 29.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.45. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $196.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $170.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 6th. The construction company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $325.00 million for the quarter. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 18.95% and a return on equity of 39.80%. Analysts forecast that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 7th were paid a dividend of $0.308 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 7th. This represents a $1.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Armstrong World Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Bank of America raised their price objective on Armstrong World Industries from $205.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Vertical Research assumed coverage on Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Monday. They set a "buy" rating and a $238.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $157.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $178.00 target price (up previously from $158.00) on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $202.25.

Armstrong World Industries 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.

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