Squarepoint Ops LLC Reduces Holdings in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR)

Squarepoint Ops LLC lowered its holdings in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR - Free Report) by 79.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,028 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 64,349 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC's holdings in AptarGroup were worth $2,675,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its holdings in AptarGroup by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 4,906 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $771,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in AptarGroup by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 961 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $154,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. KBC Group NV increased its holdings in AptarGroup by 53.7% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,551 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $401,000 after acquiring an additional 891 shares during the period. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AptarGroup by 288.5% during the 4th quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,934 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $775,000 after acquiring an additional 3,664 shares during the period. Finally, Moody Aldrich Partners LLC bought a new stake in AptarGroup during the 4th quarter worth approximately $299,000. Institutional investors own 88.52% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of AptarGroup from $185.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $170.00 target price (up previously from $162.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of AptarGroup from $190.00 to $175.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $178.60.

AptarGroup Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATR traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $158.43. The company had a trading volume of 335,104 shares, compared to its average volume of 308,116. The company has a fifty day moving average of $149.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $154.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.58. AptarGroup, Inc. has a 12 month low of $130.85 and a 12 month high of $178.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $1.20 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.04. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 15.56%. The firm had revenue of $887.31 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $894.26 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.26 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 earnings per share for the current year.

AptarGroup Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 1st. AptarGroup's dividend payout ratio is currently 32.85%.

Insider Activity at AptarGroup

In related news, insider Xiangwei Gong sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.49, for a total transaction of $1,095,430.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 10,265 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,606,369.85. This trade represents a 40.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Stephan B. Tanda sold 11,329 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.39, for a total transaction of $1,726,426.31. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 204,986 shares of the company's stock, valued at $31,237,816.54. The trade was a 5.24% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 40,709 shares of company stock valued at $6,224,840. Insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

AptarGroup Profile

AptarGroup, Inc designs and manufactures a range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active material science solutions and services for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through Aptar Pharma, Aptar Beauty, and Aptar Closures segments.