Nuveen LLC Makes New Investment in Ennis, Inc. $EBF

Key Points

• Nuveen LLC has purchased a new stake in Ennis, Inc., acquiring 136,522 shares valued at approximately $2.74 million, representing about 0.52% of the company.
• Ennis recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 5.4% and a payout ratio of 65.79%.
• During the 1st quarter, several institutional investors significantly increased their holdings in Ennis, demonstrating growing institutional confidence in the stock.

Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Ennis, Inc. (NYSE:EBF - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 136,522 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $2,743,000. Nuveen LLC owned 0.52% of Ennis at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in EBF. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its stake in shares of Ennis by 22.5% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 22,596 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 4,148 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Ennis by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 66,581 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,404,000 after acquiring an additional 620 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ennis by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,648 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 1,221 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in Ennis by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 43,296 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $915,000 after purchasing an additional 1,864 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in Ennis by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 42,362 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $894,000 after buying an additional 1,867 shares in the last quarter. 74.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ennis news, Director Walter D. Gruenes bought 5,500 shares of Ennis stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $17.99 per share, for a total transaction of $98,945.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 10,743 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $193,266.57. This represents a 104.90% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 3.70% of the company's stock.

Ennis Stock Down 0.9%

NYSE:EBF traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.24. 135,051 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 133,077. The company has a market capitalization of $470.59 million, a P/E ratio of 12.02 and a beta of 0.47. Ennis, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.15 and a 12 month high of $25.75. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $18.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.04.

Ennis (NYSE:EBF - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, June 23rd. The industrial products company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $97.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $99.30 million. Ennis had a net margin of 10.12% and a return on equity of 12.49%.

Ennis Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 11th. Investors of record on Friday, July 11th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 11th. Ennis's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.79%.

About Ennis

Ennis, Inc manufactures and sells business forms and other business products in the United States. The company offers snap sets, continuous forms, laser cut sheets, tags, labels, envelopes, integrated products, jumbo rolls, and pressure sensitive products under the Ennis, Royal Business Forms, Block Graphics, 360º Custom Labels, ColorWorx, Enfusion, Uncompromised Check Solutions, VersaSeal, Ad Concepts, FormSource Limited, Star Award Ribbon Company, Witt Printing, B&D Litho, Genforms, PrintGraphics, Calibrated Forms, PrintXcel, Printegra, Forms Manufacturers, Mutual Graphics, TRI-C Business Forms, Major Business Systems, Independent Printing, Hoosier Data Forms, Hayes Graphics, Wright Business Graphics, Wright 360, Integrated Print & Graphics, the Flesh Company, Impressions Direct, and AmeriPrint brands.