Lazard Asset Management LLC Trims Holdings in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Lazard Asset Management LLC decreased its position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,453,606 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 96,126 shares during the quarter. Rockwell Automation comprises approximately 1.0% of Lazard Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned about 2.17% of Rockwell Automation worth $701,214,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ROK. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Parvin Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 41.0% in the 4th quarter. Knuff & Co LLC now owns 141 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:ROK traded up $0.15 on Thursday, reaching $307.69. 667,996 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 874,264. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $253.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $274.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.32. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 52 week low of $215.00 and a 52 week high of $310.78.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The industrial products company reported $2.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.36. The company had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.97 billion. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 30.17%. Rockwell Automation's revenue for the quarter was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.50 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.70%. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio is 65.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ROK shares. BNP Paribas raised shares of Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $258.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. TD Cowen raised shares of Rockwell Automation from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $275.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Rockwell Automation from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $201.00 to $271.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $283.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $308.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Isaac Woods sold 876 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.03, for a total value of $248,810.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,057 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $300,219.71. The trade was a 45.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Matheus De A. G. Viera Bulho sold 293 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.68, for a total transaction of $75,500.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,922 shares in the company, valued at approximately $495,260.96. This trade represents a 13.23% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 6,839 shares of company stock worth $2,014,256 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Profile

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.