General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD) Shares Sold by United Capital Financial Advisors LLC

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD - Free Report) by 7.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 96,221 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 7,915 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in General Dynamics were worth $25,353,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in GD. Gabelli Funds LLC raised its position in General Dynamics by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 5,170 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,362,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Dynamics in the fourth quarter valued at $209,000. AGP Franklin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at $1,261,000. Canada Post Corp Registered Pension Plan acquired a new position in General Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth about $1,165,000. Finally, Strategies Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at about $940,000. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

General Dynamics Price Performance

Shares of GD stock traded down $0.93 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $275.70. 1,721,990 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,361,597. The firm has a market cap of $73.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $261.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $272.88. General Dynamics Co. has a 1-year low of $239.20 and a 1-year high of $316.90.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a net margin of 7.93% and a return on equity of 17.10%. On average, equities research analysts expect that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be issued a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This is an increase from General Dynamics's previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. General Dynamics's dividend payout ratio is 43.99%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 27,562 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.11, for a total value of $7,499,895.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 45,192 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,297,195.12. The trade was a 37.88 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total transaction of $459,201.28. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,175 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,857,224. This trade represents a 13.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on GD. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $335.00 to $330.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $337.00 to $281.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Susquehanna upped their price objective on General Dynamics from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Baird R W lowered General Dynamics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on General Dynamics from $305.00 to $285.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $294.47.

General Dynamics Profile

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.