Seaboard Corporation $SEB Shares Acquired by Vanguard Group Inc.

Key Points

• Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Seaboard Corporation by 11.2%, acquiring an additional 2,792 shares in the first quarter, bringing its total ownership to 27,811 shares worth approximately $75 million.
• Several other institutional investors also made significant investments in Seaboard, with GAMMA Investing LLC increasing its stake by 67,325% and Two Sigma Advisers LP raising theirs by 70.6% in recent months.
• Seaboard announced a $2.25 dividend with a yield of 28.0% and has authorized a $100 million stock buyback plan to repurchase up to 4% of its shares, indicating confidence in the company's valuation.

Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Seaboard Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:SEB - Free Report) by 11.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,811 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,792 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 2.87% of Seaboard worth $75,010,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Seaboard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Deutsche Bank AG grew its stake in shares of Seaboard by 37.0% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 37 shares of the company's stock valued at $90,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Seaboard during the 1st quarter worth $135,000. CWM LLC grew its stake in Seaboard by 44.7% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 55 shares of the company's stock worth $148,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Seaboard by 257.1% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 75 shares of the company's stock worth $182,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 22.57% of the company's stock.

Seaboard Stock Performance

Shares of Seaboard stock traded up $134.85 on Thursday, hitting $3,909.85. The stock had a trading volume of 2,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,103. Seaboard Corporation has a 52-week low of $2,365.00 and a 52-week high of $3,904.97. The company has a current ratio of 2.40, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock has a market cap of $3.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.16 and a beta of 0.19. The company's 50 day moving average price is $3,211.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $2,822.01.

Seaboard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th were issued a $2.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 8th. This represents a $9.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. Seaboard's dividend payout ratio is currently 9.93%.

Seaboard declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, May 21st that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to buy up to 4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Seaboard Company Profile

Seaboard Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an agricultural and ocean transportation company worldwide. It operates through six segments: Pork, Commodity Trading and Milling (CT&M), Marine, Sugar and Alcohol, Power, and Turkey. The Pork segment produces and sells pork products to further processors, food service operators, grocery stores, and distributors; hogs; and biodiesel.