Merit Financial Group LLC Acquires 5,675 Shares of Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON)

Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON - Free Report) by 12.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 50,771 shares of the conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 5,675 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Honeywell International were worth $10,751,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC raised its position in Honeywell International by 40.7% in the fourth quarter. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC now owns 42,277 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $9,550,000 after purchasing an additional 12,227 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in shares of Honeywell International by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,047 shares of the conglomerate's stock worth $4,302,000 after purchasing an additional 1,582 shares during the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new position in Honeywell International in the fourth quarter valued at about $21,525,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Honeywell International during the fourth quarter worth about $47,000. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its position in shares of Honeywell International by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 2,986 shares of the conglomerate's stock valued at $658,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. 75.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Honeywell International Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:HON traded down $0.78 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $226.67. 2,925,117 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,818,910. The company has a market cap of $145.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.07. Honeywell International Inc. has a 52 week low of $179.36 and a 52 week high of $242.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.31. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $209.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $216.23.

Honeywell International (NASDAQ:HON - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The conglomerate reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.30. Honeywell International had a net margin of 14.82% and a return on equity of 35.78%. The business had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.25 earnings per share. Honeywell International's revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Honeywell International Inc. will post 10.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Honeywell International Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.99%. Honeywell International's payout ratio is 51.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on HON shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Honeywell International from $242.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Bank of America upgraded shares of Honeywell International from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $250.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Honeywell International from $247.00 to $243.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Honeywell International from $205.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Honeywell International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Honeywell International presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $248.14.

Honeywell International Profile

Honeywell International Inc engages in the aerospace technologies, building automation, energy and sustainable solutions, and industrial automation businesses in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company's Aerospace segment offers auxiliary power units, propulsion engines, integrated avionics, environmental control and electric power systems, engine controls, flight safety, communications, navigation hardware, data and software applications, radar and surveillance systems, aircraft lighting, advanced systems and instruments, satellite and space components, and aircraft wheels and brakes; spare parts; repair, overhaul, and maintenance services; and thermal systems, as well as wireless connectivity services.