Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST) Receives Average Rating of "Hold" from Brokerages

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of "Hold" by the twelve analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $34.08.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Sensata Technologies from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $37.00 to $30.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, May 19th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Sensata Technologies from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Sensata Technologies from $27.00 to $21.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th.

Sensata Technologies Price Performance

ST stock traded up $0.55 during trading on Friday, hitting $26.87. 1,735,772 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,711,841. Sensata Technologies has a one year low of $17.32 and a one year high of $42.33. The stock has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $26.79. The company has a current ratio of 2.85, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $911.26 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $878.39 million. Sensata Technologies had a net margin of 3.27% and a return on equity of 17.54%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.89 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Sensata Technologies will post 3.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sensata Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 14th were given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 14th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.79%. Sensata Technologies's payout ratio is currently 59.26%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Andrew C. Teich purchased 9,925 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $25.19 per share, with a total value of $250,010.75. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 41,117 shares in the company, valued at $1,035,737.23. This represents a 31.82% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.89% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sensata Technologies

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in Sensata Technologies by 61.4% in the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,036 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 43,810 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,200,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 65,706 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,800,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 1.8% during the first quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 31,389 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $762,000 after acquiring an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Sensata Technologies by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 31,111 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $852,000 after acquiring an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. 99.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Sensata Technologies

Sensata Technologies Holding plc develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and sensor-rich solutions, electrical protection components and systems, and other products used in mission-critical systems and applications in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Performance Sensing and Sensing Solutions.