Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL) Stock Position Raised by Prana Capital Management LP

Prana Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL - Free Report) by 44.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 59,895 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock after purchasing an additional 18,442 shares during the quarter. Prana Capital Management LP's holdings in Oracle were worth $9,981,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $454,000. Affinity Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Oracle by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Affinity Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,903 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Safeguard Financial LLC raised its position in Oracle by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Safeguard Financial LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock valued at $417,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Oracle by 55.3% during the 4th quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,629 shares of the enterprise software provider's stock valued at $1,643,000 after purchasing an additional 3,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pines Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Oracle during the 4th quarter valued at $236,000. Institutional investors own 42.44% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Naomi O. Seligman sold 2,866 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Monday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.53, for a total transaction of $428,552.98. Following the transaction, the director now owns 31,764 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,749,670.92. The trade was a 8.28% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Leon E. Panetta sold 5,000 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Friday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.77, for a total transaction of $648,850.00. Following 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 27,366 shares of company stock worth $4,015,723 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 42.20% of the company's stock.

Oracle Stock Performance

Shares of ORCL stock traded up $1.29 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $161.78. 3,408,421 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,456,247. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $142.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $162.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $452.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.27. Oracle Co. has a 12-month low of $114.55 and a 12-month high of $198.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.65, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81.

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

Oracle Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 10th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. This is an increase from Oracle's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 10th. Oracle's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Oracle from $205.00 to $175.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Stephens began coverage on Oracle in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $167.00 target price on the stock. Barclays lowered their price target on Oracle from $212.00 to $202.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised Oracle from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price target on Oracle from $214.00 to $175.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Fourteen 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Oracle currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $174.42.

Oracle Company 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.