ING Groep NV Grows Position in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX)

Key Points

• ING Groep NV raised its holdings in The TJX Companies by 10.7% during the first quarter, owning 159,443 shares now valued at approximately $19.4 million.
• Various institutional investors, including Brighton Jones LLC and Envestnet Asset Management Inc., have significantly increased their stakes in TJX Companies, with hedge funds collectively owning 91.09% of the company's stock.
• Several analysts have upgraded TJX Companies, with Wall Street Zen changing its rating from "hold" to "buy" and UBS setting a new target price of $164.00.

ING Groep NV increased its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX - Free Report) by 10.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 159,443 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 15,390 shares during the quarter. ING Groep NV's holdings in TJX Companies were worth $19,420,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. TCTC Holdings LLC raised its position in TJX Companies by 210.1% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 214 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 58.8% in the 1st quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 297 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 99.3% in the 1st quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 299 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Inlight Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in TJX Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in TJX Companies by 105.9% during the 1st quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 348 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer's stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at TJX Companies

In related news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 950 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.09, for a total transaction of $121,685.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 22,712 shares in the company, valued at $2,909,180.08. This trade represents a 4.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

TJX Companies Price Performance

TJX traded up $3.33 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $132.10. 4,839,027 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,670,983. The company's 50-day moving average is $125.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $124.59. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $107.71 and a 12-month high of $135.85. The company has a market cap of $147.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 21st. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $13.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.01 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.81% and a net margin of 8.47%. The company's revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.93 EPS. Research analysts forecast that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 14th. TJX Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on TJX shares. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Daiwa America upgraded TJX Companies to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on TJX Companies from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Loop Capital set a $150.00 price target on TJX Companies and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $147.00 price objective (up previously from $137.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $141.06.

About TJX Companies

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.