Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Holdings Lifted by Paloma Partners Management Co

Paloma Partners Management Co grew its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 425.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,500 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 22,268 shares during the quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co's holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $7,859,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 95.8% during the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 2,332 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $667,000 after purchasing an additional 1,141 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 99.1% during the 4th quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,187 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,482,000 after buying an additional 2,582 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 5.9% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 462,537 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $132,554,000 after buying an additional 25,882 shares in the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC boosted its position in Rockwell Automation by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 946 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 357.8% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 37,239 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $10,643,000 after acquiring an additional 29,105 shares in the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 1,231 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.43, for a total value of $351,364.33. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 3,650 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,041,819.50. The trade was a 25.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Isaac Woods sold 876 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.03, for a total value of $248,810.28. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,057 shares of the company's stock, valued at $300,219.71. This trade represents a 45.32 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,750 shares of company stock valued at $1,075,923 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

ROK traded up $1.83 on Thursday, reaching $249.51. The company had a trading volume of 781,361 shares, compared to its average volume of 871,066. The company has a market capitalization of $28.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.07, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a fifty day moving average of $253.17 and a 200-day moving average of $273.73. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $215.00 and a one year high of $308.70.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 30.17%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.10%. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.26%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays reduced their price target on Rockwell Automation from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Rockwell Automation has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $297.11.

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.