GAMMA Investing LLC Has $55.21 Million Position in Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO)

GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO - Free Report) by 22,146.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 291,874 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 290,562 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC owned about 0.52% of Lincoln Electric worth $55,211,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in LECO. Mizuho Bank Ltd. bought a new stake in Lincoln Electric in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in Lincoln Electric by 255.1% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 174 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its stake in Lincoln Electric by 54.1% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 299 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Lincoln Electric in the 4th quarter valued at $68,000. Finally, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Lincoln Electric in the 4th quarter valued at $76,000. 79.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Lincoln Electric Price Performance

Shares of LECO stock traded up $0.80 on Wednesday, hitting $195.37. 214,310 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 326,085. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $161.11 and a 12 month high of $222.52. The company has a 50 day moving average of $185.84 and a 200 day moving average of $194.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $10.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.18.

Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.22 by ($0.06). Lincoln Electric had a return on equity of 40.19% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firm had revenue of $365.45 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $974.39 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.23 EPS. Lincoln Electric's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. will post 9.36 EPS for the current year.

Lincoln Electric Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.54%. Lincoln Electric's payout ratio is presently 36.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LECO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Lincoln Electric from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 24th. Barclays upped their target price on Lincoln Electric from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Lincoln Electric from $179.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Lincoln Electric from $242.00 to $212.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Lincoln Electric from $178.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $206.40.

Lincoln Electric Company Profile

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells welding, cutting, and brazing products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Americas Welding, International Welding, and The Harris Products Group. It offers brazing and soldering filler metals, arc welding equipment, plasma and oxyfuel cutting systems, wire feeding systems, fume control equipment, welding accessories, and specialty gas regulators, and education solutions, as well as a portfolio of automated solutions for joining, cutting, material handling, module assembly, and end of line testing, as well as involved in brazing and soldering alloys, and in the retail business in the United States.