Lazard Asset Management LLC Has $1.13 Million Stock Position in Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP)

Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP - Free Report) by 46.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,364 shares of the auto parts company's stock after acquiring an additional 11,508 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.17% of Standard Motor Products worth $1,126,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aquatic Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Standard Motor Products during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Standard Motor Products by 20.6% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,651 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $82,000 after acquiring an additional 453 shares during the last quarter. Polymer Capital Management US LLC bought a new stake in Standard Motor Products during the 4th quarter worth about $239,000. Magnetar Financial LLC bought a new stake in Standard Motor Products during the 4th quarter worth about $244,000. Finally, Semanteon Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Standard Motor Products during the 4th quarter worth about $289,000. Institutional investors own 81.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Dale Burks sold 11,005 shares of Standard Motor Products stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.20, for a total transaction of $299,336.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 56,860 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,546,592. This trade represents a 16.22% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 5.00% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Standard Motor Products from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd.

Standard Motor Products Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE SMP traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $28.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 108,087 shares, compared to its average volume of 169,388. The stock has a market cap of $633.87 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.80 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.25 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Standard Motor Products, Inc. has a one year low of $21.38 and a one year high of $35.92. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $25.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.28.

Standard Motor Products (NYSE:SMP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The auto parts company reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $413.38 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $394.38 million. Standard Motor Products had a net margin of 2.56% and a return on equity of 10.42%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 24.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Standard Motor Products, Inc. will post 3.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Standard Motor Products Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be paid a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. This is a positive change from Standard Motor Products's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Standard Motor Products's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 88.57%.

Standard Motor Products Company Profile

Standard Motor Products, Inc manufactures and distributes replacement automotive parts in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Vehicle Control, Temperature Control, and Engineered Solutions segments. The company provides components for the ignition, emissions, and fuel delivery systems, such as air injection and induction components, air management valves, regulators and solenoids, exhaust gas recirculation components, fuel injectors and related components, fuel valves, ignition coils, connectors and sockets, modules, pumps, relays and fuses, starting and charging system parts, and vapor and purge components.