Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Trading Down 0.1% - Should You Sell?

Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Get Free Report)'s stock price was down 0.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $161.62 and last traded at $162.17. Approximately 1,556,164 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 11,124,672 shares. The stock had previously closed at $162.27.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ORCL. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised Oracle from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada set a $145.00 target price on Oracle and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Oracle from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and set a $205.00 target price on shares of Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Westpark Capital began coverage on Oracle in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 target price for the company. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $174.42.

Oracle Trading Up 0.6%

The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $142.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $162.49. The company has a market capitalization of $448.39 billion, a PE ratio of 39.20, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.27.

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

Oracle Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 10th. This is a boost from Oracle's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.25%. Oracle's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.95%.

Insider Transactions at Oracle

In other news, Director Naomi O. Seligman sold 2,866 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.53, for a total transaction of $428,552.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 31,764 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,749,670.92. This represents a 8.28% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Leon E. Panetta sold 17,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.24, for a total value of $2,646,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 58,090 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,785,531.60. This represents a 23.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,366 shares of company stock worth $4,015,723. 42.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oracle

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Woodline Partners LP lifted its stake in Oracle by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 79,741 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $11,149,000 after acquiring an additional 6,148 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in Oracle by 21.4% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 111,233 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $15,551,000 after acquiring an additional 19,603 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC acquired a new position in Oracle during the 1st quarter worth about $289,000. Ascent Group LLC lifted its stake in Oracle by 110.0% during the 1st quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 32,607 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $4,559,000 after acquiring an additional 17,082 shares in the last quarter. Finally, United Services Automobile Association lifted its stake in Oracle by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 37,204 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock worth $5,241,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.44% of the company's stock.

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.