Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST) Rating Lowered to "Buy" at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Sensata from "strong‑buy" to "buy"; despite the move, analysts remain mixed with 4 Buys, 6 Holds and 1 Sell and a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $43.10.
• Sensata shares are trading near their 12‑month high (opened $42.21, 1‑yr high $42.55) with a market cap of $6.14B and a stretched valuation (trailing P/E ~136.15, PEG 1.20).
• In the latest quarter Sensata reported EPS of $0.86 on $934.8M revenue (net margin 1.28%, ROE 18.23%), and insiders have reduced holdings recently (EVP sold 2,913 shares; insiders now own 0.89%).

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on ST. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Sensata Technologies from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Sensata Technologies presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $43.10.

Sensata Technologies Price Performance

ST opened at $42.21 on Friday. Sensata Technologies has a one year low of $21.39 and a one year high of $42.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 136.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 2.75 and a quick ratio of 1.78. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $36.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $34.63.

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Sensata Technologies had a net margin of 1.28% and a return on equity of 18.23%. The firm had revenue of $934.80 million for the quarter. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Sensata Technologies will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sensata Technologies

In other news, EVP Lynne J. Caljouw sold 2,913 shares of Sensata Technologies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.71, for a total transaction of $101,110.23. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 72,842 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,528,345.82. This trade represents a 3.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold 7,889 shares of company stock worth $280,345 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.89% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sensata Technologies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Sensata Technologies by 659.7% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 904 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 785 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in Sensata Technologies by 700.0% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 832 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 728 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Corp acquired a new stake in Sensata Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC increased its stake in Sensata Technologies by 62.5% in the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 913 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 351 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EFG International AG acquired a new stake in Sensata Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 99.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Sensata Technologies

Sensata Technologies Holdings N.V. is a global industrial technology company specializing in the design, development and manufacture of sensors and electrical protection solutions. The company's product portfolio includes pressure, temperature, position, speed, current and magnetic sensors, as well as circuit breakers and other protection devices. Sensata's offerings serve a wide array of end markets, with a particularly strong presence in automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), industrial automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), commercial aerospace and renewable energy sectors.

Headquartered in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Sensata operates a network of manufacturing and engineering facilities across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

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