Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Acquires 1,779 Shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) by 28.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,037 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,779 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $2,297,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ROK. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its stake in Rockwell Automation by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 3,775 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,079,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. grew its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 1,896 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $542,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 4,195 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,199,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $386,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. grew its stake in Rockwell Automation by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. now owns 1,082 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. 75.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

ROK stock traded down $2.38 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $246.00. The company's stock had a trading volume of 176,050 shares, compared to its average volume of 932,662. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 12 month low of $215.00 and a 12 month high of $308.70. The company has a 50 day moving average of $257.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $274.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, analysts expect that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.13%. Rockwell Automation's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.26%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $248.00 to $201.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Loop Capital boosted their price target on Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. BNP Paribas raised Rockwell Automation from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $297.11.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.14, for a total value of $145,070.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,905 shares in the company, valued at approximately $552,716.70. The trade was a 20.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Matheus De A. G. Viera Bulho sold 293 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.68, for a total transaction of $75,500.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,922 shares in the company, valued at $495,260.96. This trade represents a 13.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 3,750 shares of company stock worth $1,075,923. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation 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.