Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD) Share Price Crosses Below 50-Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Quad Graphics shares fell below their 50-day moving average, trading as low as $9.18 versus the $9.75 average, with the latest price around $9.26. This signals short-term technical weakness but does not by itself indicate a sell decision.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with a consensus “Buy” rating and an average price target of $12.00; recent targets from Rosenblatt Securities and Benchmark were raised to $13.00.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $0.24 in EPS versus $0.20 expected and $577.5 million in revenue versus $545.15 million estimated. Quad also maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.10, equivalent to a 4.3% annualized yield.

Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE:QUAD - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $9.75 and traded as low as $9.18. Quad Graphics shares last traded at $9.2550, with a volume of 367,126 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Quad Graphics in a report on Friday, July 24th. Zacks Research raised Quad Graphics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Rosenblatt Securities increased their target price on Quad Graphics from $9.80 to $13.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Benchmark raised their price target on shares of Quad Graphics from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $12.00.

Quad Graphics Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.24. The stock has a market cap of $476.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.69 and a beta of 1.08.

Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $577.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $545.15 million. Quad Graphics had a return on equity of 47.90% and a net margin of 1.31%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Quad Graphics, Inc will post 1.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Quad Graphics Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 17th were issued a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Quad Graphics's payout ratio is 63.49%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quad Graphics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Miller Value Partners LLC grew its stake in Quad Graphics by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Miller Value Partners LLC now owns 2,737,890 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $17,167,000 after buying an additional 114,415 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Quad Graphics by 1.5% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,135,439 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $7,506,000 after buying an additional 16,815 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Quad Graphics by 2.0% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 460,452 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,044,000 after acquiring an additional 9,174 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of Quad Graphics during the second quarter worth about $3,506,000. Finally, Invst LLC grew its position in shares of Quad Graphics by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Invst LLC now owns 360,463 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,260,000 after acquiring an additional 4,069 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.52% of the company's stock.

About Quad Graphics

Quad/Graphics, Inc, doing business as Quad, is a marketing experience company that provides print and integrated marketing services to businesses and organizations. Its offerings include commercial printing, direct mail, packaging, in-store displays, publications, and other printed communications, supported by production, distribution, and logistics capabilities.

Quad also provides marketing services designed to help clients plan, create, produce, and distribute campaigns across multiple channels.

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