Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (NYSE:SSD) Shares Bought by Rafferty Asset Management LLC

Rafferty Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (NYSE:SSD - Free Report) by 25.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,207 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 2,689 shares during the quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC's holdings in Simpson Manufacturing were worth $2,190,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Simpson Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Park Place Capital Corp purchased a new position in Simpson Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Simpson Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its position in Simpson Manufacturing by 88.2% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 207 shares of the construction company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in Simpson Manufacturing by 53.4% during the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 273 shares of the construction company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. 93.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Simpson Manufacturing

In related news, EVP Michael Andersen sold 1,000 shares of Simpson Manufacturing stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.98, for a total value of $169,980.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 8,810 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,497,523.80. This trade represents a 10.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on SSD shares. DA Davidson reduced their price target on shares of Simpson Manufacturing from $195.00 to $185.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Simpson Manufacturing from $196.00 to $192.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th.

Simpson Manufacturing Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SSD traded down $0.99 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $154.51. 163,093 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 271,811. The firm has a market cap of $6.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.33 and a beta of 1.34. Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $137.35 and a twelve month high of $197.82. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $154.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $165.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 3.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE:SSD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The construction company reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.14. Simpson Manufacturing had a net margin of 14.44% and a return on equity of 18.00%. The business had revenue of $538.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $531.81 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.77 EPS. The business's revenue was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. will post 8.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Simpson Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be paid a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. This is a boost from Simpson Manufacturing's previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Simpson Manufacturing's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.10%.

About Simpson Manufacturing

Simpson Manufacturing Co, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells structural solutions for wood, concrete, and steel connections. The company offers wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shearwalls, and pre-fabricated lateral systems for use in light-frame construction; and concrete construction products comprising adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder actuated tools, fiber-reinforced materials, and other repair products for use in concrete, masonry, and steel construction, as well as grouts, coatings, sealers, mortars, fiberglass and fiber-reinforced polymer systems, and asphalt products for use in concrete construction repair, and strengthening and protection products.