Algert Global LLC Sells 5,787 Shares of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO)

Algert Global LLC trimmed its position in Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LECO - Free Report) by 32.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,210 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 5,787 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Lincoln Electric were worth $2,289,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mizuho Bank Ltd. acquired a new position in Lincoln Electric during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of Lincoln Electric by 255.1% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 174 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Lincoln Electric by 54.1% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 299 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of Lincoln Electric by 37.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 389 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the period. Finally, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lincoln Electric during the fourth quarter worth $76,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.61% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Lincoln Electric

In other news, CEO Steven B. Hedlund sold 21,054 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.47, for a total value of $4,536,505.38. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 54,660 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,777,590.20. This represents a 27.81% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.63% of the company's stock.

Lincoln Electric Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ LECO traded up $0.67 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $196.24. The stock had a trading volume of 139,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 330,285. The company has a market cap of $10.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.08, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 1.25. Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $161.11 and a twelve month high of $233.17. The business's fifty day moving average is $185.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $195.57.

Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.16 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.22 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $365.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $974.39 million. Lincoln Electric had a return on equity of 40.19% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.23 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. will post 9.36 EPS for the current year.

Lincoln Electric Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Lincoln Electric's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on LECO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lincoln Electric from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Lincoln Electric from $179.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Lincoln Electric from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. KeyCorp decreased their price target on Lincoln Electric from $245.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Lincoln Electric from $178.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $216.17.

Lincoln Electric Company Profile

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells welding, cutting, and brazing products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Americas Welding, International Welding, and The Harris Products Group. It offers brazing and soldering filler metals, arc welding equipment, plasma and oxyfuel cutting systems, wire feeding systems, fume control equipment, welding accessories, and specialty gas regulators, and education solutions, as well as a portfolio of automated solutions for joining, cutting, material handling, module assembly, and end of line testing, as well as involved in brazing and soldering alloys, and in the retail business in the United States.