Merit Financial Group LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT)

Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT - Free Report) by 8.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,961 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,046 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $5,790,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 41,104.9% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,991,433 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $889,593,000 after purchasing an additional 1,986,600 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Lockheed Martin by 53,784.3% during the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,235,568 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $600,412,000 after buying an additional 1,233,275 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Lockheed Martin by 17.9% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,471,071 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $3,630,492,000 after buying an additional 1,132,461 shares during the last quarter. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lockheed Martin during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $526,587,000. Finally, Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 4th quarter valued at $451,985,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on LMT shares. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $500.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $481.00 to $499.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Bank of America downgraded Lockheed Martin from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $685.00 to $485.00 in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Lockheed Martin from $476.00 to $432.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered Lockheed Martin from an "outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $550.00 to $480.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $541.80.

Lockheed Martin Price Performance

Shares of LMT stock traded up $2.32 on Friday, reaching $480.35. 401,838 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,566,211. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1 year low of $418.88 and a 1 year high of $618.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.13. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $466.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $472.81. The company has a market cap of $112.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.29.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.34 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $17.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.83 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 101.47% and a net margin of 7.51%. Equities research analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $3.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $13.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.75%. Lockheed Martin's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.02%.

Lockheed Martin Company Profile

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.