Lazard Asset Management LLC Increases Stake in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR)

Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR - Free Report) by 13.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,709 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 3,390 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC's holdings in AptarGroup were worth $4,352,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATR. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in AptarGroup during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Park Place Capital Corp bought a new stake in AptarGroup during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $67,000. Principal Securities Inc. grew its position in AptarGroup by 328.4% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 437 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 335 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank grew its position in AptarGroup by 35.1% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 462 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in AptarGroup during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $75,000. 88.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at AptarGroup

In related news, insider Shiela Vinczeller sold 995 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.42, for a total value of $151,657.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,301 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,008,798.42. This trade represents a 3.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Hedi Tlili sold 3,614 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.96, for a total transaction of $563,639.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 9,379 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,462,748.84. The trade was a 27.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 33,709 shares of company stock worth $5,129,410. Insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

AptarGroup Trading Down 1.3%

ATR stock traded down $2.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $156.44. 43,044 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 305,811. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.38. AptarGroup, Inc. has a one year low of $130.85 and a one year high of $178.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.33 billion, a PE ratio of 28.22, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.58. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $147.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $155.10.

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

AptarGroup Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 1st will be issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 1st. AptarGroup's payout ratio is presently 32.85%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $170.00 price target (up previously from $162.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of AptarGroup from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. 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 research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of AptarGroup from $185.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $178.60.

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.