Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Stake Raised by Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC

Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 9.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 189,892 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 16,924 shares during the quarter. Rockwell Automation comprises 3.1% of Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC owned about 0.17% of Rockwell Automation worth $58,958,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ROK. Markel Corp boosted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Markel Corp now owns 152,900 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $42,816,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 10.3% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 57,480 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $16,221,000 after purchasing an additional 5,386 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 1st quarter valued at about $642,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,649 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,021,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,472,877 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,212,750,000 after acquiring an additional 106,641 shares during the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on ROK shares. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $254.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Thursday, March 21st. Berenberg Bank restated a "hold" rating and issued a $290.00 price objective (down from $330.00) on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $305.00 to $360.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $330.00 to $322.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rockwell Automation presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $307.43.

Rockwell Automation Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:ROK traded down $3.70 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $284.82. The stock had a trading volume of 1,118,807 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,030,762. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 1 year low of $252.11 and a 1 year high of $348.52. The firm's 50 day moving average is $282.22 and its 200-day moving average is $284.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.43.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.62 by ($0.58). Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 13.35% and a return on equity of 37.22%. The firm had revenue of $2.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.46 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 13th will be given a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 10th. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.57%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rockwell Automation

In related news, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $287.59, for a total value of $43,138.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,199 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $344,820.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.00, for a total value of $145,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,383 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $691,070. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $287.59, for a total transaction of $43,138.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,199 shares in the company, valued at $344,820.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 17,877 shares of company stock valued at $5,058,772. Insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Company 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.