Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Rating Increased to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a $250.00 price target on the enterprise software provider's stock, up from their prior price target of $180.00. Stifel Nicolaus' target price suggests a potential upside of 18.96% from the company's previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Westpark Capital boosted their price target on shares of Oracle from $195.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 12th. Mizuho decreased their target price on Oracle from $210.00 to $180.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Loop Capital set a $135.00 target price on Oracle in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $240.00 price target (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Oracle in a research report on Thursday, June 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Oracle in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Oracle presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $200.26.

Oracle Trading Down 1.2%

NYSE:ORCL opened at $210.16 on Monday. Oracle has a 1 year low of $118.86 and a 1 year high of $216.93. The business has a fifty day moving average of $168.42 and a 200-day moving average of $162.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.07, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.75. The stock has a market cap of $590.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.42, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 1.32.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, June 11th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $15.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $15.58 billion. Oracle had a return on equity of 87.34% and a net margin of 21.68%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.63 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Oracle will post 5 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Oracle news, insider Clayton M. Magouyrk sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.10, for a total transaction of $3,211,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 60,722 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,000,580.20. The trade was a 19.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Leon E. Panetta sold 5,000 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 11th. The stock was 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 owns 58,090 shares in the company, valued at $7,538,339.30. The trade was a 7.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 442,366 shares of company stock worth $83,395,223. 42.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Hurley Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Oracle during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Oracle during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Oracle by 284.9% during the first quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 204 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. 42.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Oracle

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.

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