Northern Trust Corp Grows Stake in Quaker Houghton $KWR

Key Points

• Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in Quaker Houghton by 4.2%, owning 216,856 shares worth approximately $26.8 million, indicating strong institutional interest in the company.
• Quaker Houghton reported earnings per share of $1.71 for the latest quarter, which missed analyst expectations, although its revenue of $483.4 million surpassed estimates.
• The company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.49 to $0.508 per share, highlighting its commitment to returning value to shareholders amidst a complex financial backdrop.

Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in shares of Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR - Free Report) by 4.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 216,856 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,751 shares during the quarter. Northern Trust Corp owned 1.23% of Quaker Houghton worth $26,806,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KWR. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Quaker Houghton by 400.0% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 230 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 184 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Quaker Houghton by 390.5% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 363 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in Quaker Houghton by 119.7% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 391 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its stake in Quaker Houghton by 573.1% in the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 875 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 745 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in Quaker Houghton by 200.0% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,053 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $130,000 after purchasing an additional 702 shares during the period. 77.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Quaker Houghton Price Performance

Quaker Houghton stock traded up $4.88 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $139.55. The company had a trading volume of 51,253 shares, compared to its average volume of 170,206. Quaker Houghton has a fifty-two week low of $95.91 and a fifty-two week high of $180.96. The company has a current ratio of 2.56, a quick ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The company has a market cap of $2.43 billion, a P/E ratio of -324.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.44. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $128.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $120.72.

Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.82 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $483.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $463.57 million. Quaker Houghton had a positive return on equity of 8.35% and a negative net margin of 0.39%.The company's revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.13 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Quaker Houghton will post 7.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Quaker Houghton Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be given a $0.508 dividend. This represents a $2.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. This is a positive change from Quaker Houghton's previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Quaker Houghton's payout ratio is currently -472.09%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KWR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Quaker Houghton in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $135.00 price target on shares of Quaker Houghton and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Quaker Houghton from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $146.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, June 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $150.75.

About Quaker Houghton

Quaker Chemical Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets various formulated specialty chemical products for a range of heavy industrial and manufacturing applications in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers metal removal fluids, cleaning fluids, corrosion inhibitors, metal drawing and forming fluids, die-cast mold releases, heat treatment and quenchants, metal forging fluids, hydraulic fluids, specialty greases, offshore sub-sea energy control fluids, rolling lubricants, rod and wire drawing fluids, and surface treatment chemicals.