Quantbot Technologies LP Makes New $9.45 Million Investment in Graco Inc. $GGG

Key Points

• Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Graco Inc. worth approximately $9.45 million, purchasing 113,165 shares during the first quarter.
• Graco reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the last quarter, missing expectations, with revenues of $571.81 million, which was below the consensus estimate.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.275 per share, yielding 1.3% annually, with a dividend payout ratio of 39.01%.

Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 113,165 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $9,450,000. Quantbot Technologies LP owned about 0.07% of Graco at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GGG. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Graco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $46,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Graco by 128.9% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 689 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. National Pension Service raised its stake in Graco by 74.8% in the first quarter. National Pension Service now owns 699 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in Graco by 92.6% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 932 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $78,000 after buying an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Finally, USA Financial Formulas raised its stake in Graco by 43.6% in the first quarter. USA Financial Formulas now owns 1,057 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $88,000 after buying an additional 321 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.88% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on GGG. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Graco in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an "outperform" rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Graco from $88.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $94.50.

Graco Stock Up 3.1%

Shares of GGG traded up $2.6310 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $87.3110. 556,123 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 729,291. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.04. Graco Inc. has a 12-month low of $72.06 and a 12-month high of $92.86. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $85.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $84.18.

Graco (NYSE:GGG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $571.81 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $590.57 million. Graco had a net margin of 22.26% and a return on equity of 19.05%. Graco's quarterly revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.77 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Graco Inc. will post 3.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Monday, July 21st were given a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 21st. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. Graco's payout ratio is currently 39.01%.

Graco Profile

Graco Inc designs, manufactures, and markets systems and equipment used to move, measure, control, dispense, and spray fluid and powder materials worldwide. The Contractor segment offers sprayers to apply paint to walls and other structures; two-component proportioning systems that are used to spray polyurethane foam and polyurea coatings; and viscous coatings to roofs, as well as markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields, and floors.