Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,590,000 shares, a growth of 21.1% from the April 30th total of 3,790,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,970,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days. Currently, 3.2% of the company's stock are sold short.

Sensata Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ST traded up $0.52 during trading on Friday, reaching $27.03. 1,093,787 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,689,493. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.95 billion, a PE ratio of 32.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 2.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.53. Sensata Technologies has a 52-week low of $17.32 and a 52-week high of $42.33.

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

Sensata Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th were issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 14th. Sensata Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 59.26%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Sensata Technologies news, Director Andrew C. Teich bought 9,925 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $25.19 per share, for a total transaction of $250,010.75. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 41,117 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,035,737.23. This represents a 31.82% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.89% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sensata Technologies

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in Sensata Technologies by 61.4% in the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,036 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sensata Technologies by 738.7% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 931 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 820 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new position in shares of Sensata Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Sensata Technologies by 515.5% during the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,114 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in Sensata Technologies during the first quarter valued at $27,000. 99.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on ST. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on shares of Sensata Technologies from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Evercore ISI lowered Sensata Technologies from an "outperform" rating to an "inline" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Sensata Technologies from $27.00 to $21.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Sensata Technologies from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $34.08.

Sensata Technologies Company Profile

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.