Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST) Sets New 12-Month High - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• Sensata hit a new 52-week high of $42.45, but analysts' consensus is a Hold with an average target of $40.80 and mixed price-target changes (UBS raised to $45 with a Buy).
• The company modestly beat the quarter (EPS $0.88 vs $0.86; revenue $917.9M vs $911.0M) yet trades at a high P/E of 222 and posts a thin net margin (~0.83%), highlighting limited current profitability despite the stock rally.
• Sensata declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 (1.1% yield) despite a very high dividend payout ratio of 252.63%; insiders have sold shares recently while institutional investors own 99.42% of the stock.

Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $42.45 and last traded at $42.1930, with a volume of 2390695 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.69.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on ST shares. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Sensata Technologies from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Sensata Technologies from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Sensata Technologies from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. UBS Group boosted their target price on Sensata Technologies from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Sensata Technologies from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. 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. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $40.80.

Sensata Technologies Stock Up 1.2%

The business has a fifty day moving average of $36.63 and a 200 day moving average of $34.46. The firm has a market cap of $6.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 222.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02.

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, February 14th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $917.88 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $911.03 million. Sensata Technologies had a return on equity of 17.92% and a net margin of 0.83%.The firm's revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.76 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. will post 3.65 EPS for the current year.

Sensata Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 13th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 13th. Sensata Technologies's dividend payout ratio is currently 252.63%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Lynne J. Caljouw sold 2,913 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.71, for a total value of $101,110.23. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 72,842 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,528,345.82. This represents a 3.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders sold a total of 7,889 shares of company stock valued at $280,345 in the last ninety days. Corporate 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 added to or reduced their stakes in ST. Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies in the third quarter worth about $1,566,000. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies in the third quarter worth about $1,002,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies in the fourth quarter worth about $1,133,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies in the third quarter worth about $864,000. Finally, Seizert Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies in the third quarter worth about $1,865,000. Institutional investors own 99.42% of the company's stock.

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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