Paradiem LLC Acquires 8,914 Shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Paradiem LLC increased its holdings in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 38.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,975 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 8,914 shares during the period. General Dynamics accounts for approximately 2.3% of Paradiem LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Paradiem LLC's holdings in General Dynamics were worth $8,303,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the third quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Rational Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in General Dynamics during the third quarter valued at about $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.14% of the company's stock.

General Dynamics Stock Down 0.2 %

General Dynamics stock traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $284.41. 1,244,205 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,231,567. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $280.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $262.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $78.03 billion, a PE ratio of 23.20, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.68. General Dynamics Co. has a one year low of $202.35 and a one year high of $296.50.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The aerospace company reported $2.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.89 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $10.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.26 billion. General Dynamics had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 16.48%. The business's revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.64 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.57 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 12th will be given a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from General Dynamics's previous quarterly dividend of $1.32. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 11th. General Dynamics's payout ratio is currently 46.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GD has been the topic of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on General Dynamics from $253.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on General Dynamics from $286.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. StockNews.com upgraded General Dynamics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on General Dynamics from $280.00 to $298.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Alembic Global Advisors downgraded General Dynamics from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $296.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $293.43.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total value of $8,551,750.05. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 773,977 shares in the company, valued at approximately $204,569,860.87. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 1.52% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.