Czech National Bank Increases Holdings in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME)

Czech National Bank boosted its stake in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME - Free Report) by 5.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 53,127 shares of the technology company's stock after buying an additional 2,974 shares during the quarter. Czech National Bank's holdings in AMETEK were worth $9,145,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AME. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of AMETEK in the fourth quarter valued at about $697,080,000. Capital World Investors grew its position in AMETEK by 70.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 5,760,017 shares of the technology company's stock worth $1,038,301,000 after purchasing an additional 2,371,062 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in AMETEK by 393.1% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,215,087 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $219,030,000 after buying an additional 968,661 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of AMETEK by 18,368.3% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 973,280 shares of the technology company's stock worth $167,540,000 after buying an additional 968,010 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of AMETEK by 240.3% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,125,068 shares of the technology company's stock worth $202,805,000 after buying an additional 794,473 shares during the last quarter. 87.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at AMETEK

In other news, Director Thomas A. Amato sold 710 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.64, for a total transaction of $125,414.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,560 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,865,318.40. This trade represents a 6.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

AMETEK Price Performance

Shares of AME traded down $0.39 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $177.32. 1,106,005 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,291,920. The company has a market cap of $40.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 1.12. AMETEK, Inc. has a 1 year low of $145.02 and a 1 year high of $198.33. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $168.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $179.12. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

AMETEK (NYSE:AME - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The technology company reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.06. AMETEK had a return on equity of 16.94% and a net margin of 19.83%. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.74 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.64 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that AMETEK, Inc. will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current year.

AMETEK announced that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Friday, February 7th that permits the company to buyback $1.25 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the technology company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

AMETEK Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be given a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. AMETEK's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on AMETEK from $197.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of AMETEK from $196.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Mizuho set a $212.00 target price on shares of AMETEK in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen raised AMETEK from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of AMETEK from $194.00 to $201.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $197.89.

About AMETEK

AMETEK, Inc manufactures and sells electronic instruments and electromechanical devices in the North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, and internationally. The company's EIG segment offers advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power, and industrial markets; process and analytical instruments for the oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, automation, and food and beverage industries; instruments to the laboratory equipment, ultra-precision manufacturing, medical, and test and measurement markets; power quality monitoring and c devices, uninterruptible power supplies, programmable power and electromagnetic compatibility test equipment, and sensors for gas turbines and dashboard instruments; heavy trucks, instrumentation, and controls for the food and beverage industries; and aircraft and engine sensors, power supplies, embedded computing, monitoring, fuel and fluid measurement, and data acquisition systems for aerospace and defense industry.