Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD) Now Covered by Analysts at Benchmark

Key Points

• Benchmark initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $10.00 price target, implying roughly a 41% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst consensus is mixed but positive overall — three Buys and two Holds yield an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $9.93.
• QUAD trades around $7.09 with a $370M market cap and a PE of 13.13; it reported $0.36 EPS last quarter but has high leverage (debt/equity 2.52) and liquidity ratios below 1 (current 0.86, quick 0.63).

Benchmark initiated coverage on shares of Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD - Get Free Report) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage set a "buy" rating and a $10.00 price target on the business services provider's stock. Benchmark's price target would suggest a potential upside of 41.04% from the company's previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Quad Graphics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Sunday, March 29th. Zacks Research downgraded Quad Graphics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Rosenblatt Securities upped their price objective on Quad Graphics from $8.20 to $9.80 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Quad Graphics in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $9.93.

Quad Graphics Trading Up 2.9%

Shares of QUAD stock opened at $7.09 on Tuesday. Quad Graphics has a 1 year low of $4.50 and a 1 year high of $7.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $6.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $6.21. The company has a market cap of $370.52 million, a PE ratio of 13.13 and a beta of 1.16.

Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The business services provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36. Quad Graphics had a return on equity of 49.71% and a net margin of 1.12%.The business had revenue of $630.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $632.90 million. Research analysts predict that Quad Graphics will post 1.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of QUAD. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Quad Graphics in the first quarter worth approximately $2,101,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in Quad Graphics by 1,135.6% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 18,941 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 17,408 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Quad Graphics by 7.3% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 315,209 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,718,000 after purchasing an additional 21,448 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth bought a new position in Quad Graphics in the first quarter worth approximately $144,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Quad Graphics by 0.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 703,720 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $3,977,000 after purchasing an additional 1,837 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.52% of the company's stock.

Quad Graphics Company Profile

Quad Graphics, Inc NYSE: QUAD is a global provider of print and related marketing services, serving a diverse range of clients in the publishing, retail, e-commerce and consumer packaged goods sectors. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span traditional print production, supply chain management and digital marketing support. Quad Graphics leverages a network of production facilities and distribution centers to deliver high-quality printed materials and integrated marketing programs that help clients reach their target audiences across multiple channels.

The company's core offerings include magazine and catalog printing, direct mail, retail inserts, shopper marketing materials, custom packaging and point-of-sale displays.

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