EP Wealth Advisors LLC Acquires 2,145 Shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL)

EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Free Report) by 2.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 96,791 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock after purchasing an additional 2,145 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC's holdings in Oracle were worth $16,129,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ORCL. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Oracle in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Oracle by 89.7% in the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 184 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, TFC Financial Management Inc. raised its position in Oracle by 129.0% in the 4th quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 213 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.44% of the company's stock.

Oracle Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ORCL traded up $5.24 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $155.58. The stock had a trading volume of 3,105,112 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,430,388. The business's fifty day moving average is $142.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $162.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The company has a market cap of $435.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.06, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.27. Oracle Co. has a twelve month low of $114.55 and a twelve month high of $198.31.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, March 10th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.02). Oracle had a net margin of 21.16% and a return on equity of 133.25%. The firm had revenue of $14.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.41 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Oracle Co. will post 5 EPS for the current year.

Oracle Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 10th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.29%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 10th. This is a boost from Oracle's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Oracle's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.95%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Piper Sandler restated a "neutral" rating and set a $130.00 price objective (down previously from $190.00) on shares of Oracle in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Westpark Capital initiated coverage on shares of Oracle in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Oracle from $175.00 to $150.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of Oracle from $200.00 to $185.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Oracle from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Oracle currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $174.42.

Insider Activity at Oracle

In other Oracle news, Director Naomi O. Seligman sold 2,866 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.53, for a total value of $428,552.98. Following the transaction, the director now owns 31,764 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,749,670.92. This represents a 8.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Leon E. Panetta sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.77, for a total value of $648,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 58,090 shares in the company, valued at $7,538,339.30. The trade was a 7.93% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 27,366 shares of company stock worth $4,015,723 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 42.20% of the company's stock.

Oracle Profile

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.