UBS Group AG Buys 33,235 Shares of Elbit Systems Ltd. $ESLT

Key Points

• UBS Group AG increased its position in Elbit Systems by 35.5%, buying 33,235 shares to hold 126,864 shares (about 0.29% of the company) valued at roughly $73.29 million at the end of the quarter.
• Elbit beat the quarter with $3.56 EPS versus $3.23 expected and $2.15 billion in revenue, and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.00 (a $4.00 annualized payout, ~0.5% yield).
• Analysts' consensus is a Moderate Buy with a $667 target (JPMorgan raised its target to $930), while insiders sold about 69,736 shares (~$61.9 million) over the last three months.

UBS Group AG increased its stake in shares of Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT - Free Report) by 35.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 126,864 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 33,235 shares during the quarter. UBS Group AG owned about 0.29% of Elbit Systems worth $73,291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in Elbit Systems by 98.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,464 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $946,000 after buying an additional 1,225 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Elbit Systems in the 1st quarter valued at $353,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Elbit Systems by 3,461.1% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 641 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $246,000 after buying an additional 623 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in Elbit Systems by 33.7% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 135,106 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $51,837,000 after buying an additional 34,049 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its holdings in Elbit Systems by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 16,521 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $6,339,000 after buying an additional 1,191 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 17.88% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on ESLT shares. Zacks Research raised shares of Elbit Systems from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Elbit Systems from $580.00 to $930.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Elbit Systems from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $667.00.

Elbit Systems Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ESLT opened at $831.22 on Monday. Elbit Systems Ltd. has a 52 week low of $369.60 and a 52 week high of $1,016.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.29. The company's fifty day moving average is $870.30 and its 200-day moving average is $678.51. The company has a market capitalization of $36.95 billion, a PE ratio of 73.17, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.14.

Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, March 17th. The aerospace company reported $3.56 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.23 by $0.33. Elbit Systems had a net margin of 6.73% and a return on equity of 15.53%. The company had revenue of $2.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.09 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Elbit Systems Ltd. will post 15.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Elbit Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 13th were paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 13th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. This is a boost from Elbit Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Elbit Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Jonathan Ariel sold 7,654 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $887.40, for a total value of $6,792,159.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Haim Daniel Delmar sold 7,654 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $887.40, for a total transaction of $6,792,159.60. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 69,736 shares of company stock worth $61,883,726 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.84% of the company's stock.

Elbit Systems Profile

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an Israel-based defense electronics company that designs, develops and supplies a broad range of systems for military, homeland security and commercial aviation customers. The company focuses on integrated, platform-level solutions that combine sensors, communications, command-and-control software and weapons integration to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), force protection and mission management.

Its product and service portfolio spans unmanned aircraft systems, electro-optic and signal intelligence systems, electronic warfare and communications equipment, avionics and mission systems for military and commercial aircraft, and land and naval systems.

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