NAPCO Security Technologies (NASDAQ:NSSC) Share Price Breaks Below 200 Day Moving Average on Disappointing Earnings

Key Points

• NAPCO Security Technologies shares fell below their 200-day moving average after quarterly EPS of $0.34 missed analysts’ $0.38 consensus estimate. The stock traded as low as $31.00 and last changed hands at $32.10.
• The company maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.17 per share, equivalent to an annualized $0.68 payout and a 2.1% yield.
• Analysts remain moderately bullish, with four Buy ratings and two Holds and an average price target of $51.33, although insiders sold more than 523,000 shares worth approximately $18.3 million during the quarter.

Shares of NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSSC - Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $39.07 and traded as low as $31.00. NAPCO Security Technologies shares last traded at $32.10, with a volume of 2,444,961 shares trading hands.

The industrial products company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.38 by ($0.04). NAPCO Security Technologies had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 31.41%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.34 earnings per share.

NAPCO Security Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 4th. Investors of record on Monday, December 14th will be given a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 14th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. NAPCO Security Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.20%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on NSSC. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating on shares of NAPCO Security Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. Weiss Ratings upgraded NAPCO Security Technologies from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Thursday, October 8th. DA Davidson set a $52.00 target price on NAPCO Security Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $49.00 target price on shares of NAPCO Security Technologies in a report on Friday, August 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $51.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Donna Soloway sold 20,962 shares of NAPCO Security Technologies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.62, for a total value of $725,704.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 20,962 shares of the company's stock, valued at $725,704.44. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Chairman Richard Soloway sold 379,529 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.50, for a total transaction of $13,093,750.50. Following the transaction, the chairman owned 621,958 shares in the company, valued at $21,457,551. This represents a 37.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 523,962 shares of company stock valued at $18,257,168. Corporate insiders own 2.96% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of NAPCO Security Technologies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bridge City Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of NAPCO Security Technologies by 18.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bridge City Capital LLC now owns 99,999 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,562,000 after buying an additional 15,868 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NAPCO Security Technologies by 225.9% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,310 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 908 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NAPCO Security Technologies by 844.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,162 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 1,039 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new position in NAPCO Security Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $638,000. Finally, Vest Financial LLC grew its stake in NAPCO Security Technologies by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 106,315 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,787,000 after buying an additional 10,246 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.07% of the company's stock.

NAPCO Security Technologies Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.53 and a beta of 1.51. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $36.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.07.

About NAPCO Security Technologies

NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc develops, manufactures and sells electronic security products and solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial and residential applications. Its offerings include intrusion alarm systems, access control systems, fire alarm products, locking systems and related communications technologies.

The company markets products under brands that include NAPCO, StarLink, Alarm Lock, Continental Instruments and Firewolf. Its solutions are designed to support security dealers, alarm monitoring providers, systems integrators and other professional-channel customers, including applications in schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and government buildings.

Founded in 1969, NAPCO is headquartered in Amityville, New York.

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