National Instruments Corporation provides a software-centric platform and systems to engineers and scientists worldwide. Its programming environments software includes NI LabVIEW, a graphical software platform to visualize hardware configuration, measurement data, and debugging of application; NI LabWindows/CVI, an ANSI C integrated development environment and engineering toolbox; and NI Measurement Studio, a suite of .NET tools for building engineering applications in Microsoft Visual Studio. The company's application software comprises NI TestStand that is used for automated test and measurement applications in manufacturing environment; NI VeriStand, a software environment for configuring real-time testing applications; Flexlogger for sensor configuration and data logging of mixed signals; and NI InsightCM Enterprise, a software for monitoring ancillary rotating equipment. Its operations management and analytic enterprise software include NI DIAdem, which is configuration-based technical data management, analysis, and report generation tools to mine and analyze engineering and measurement data; NI SystemLink, a systems management and data collection software that enables the mass coordination of connected devices, software deployments, and data communications throughout a distributed system; and NI Optimal Plus. The company also offers PXI hardware form factor; and NI semiconductor test systems, as well as software and hardware maintenance, and training and certification services. It serves semiconductor, transportation, aerospace, and defense industries; and government agencies. National Instruments Corporation has strategic agreements with Konrad Technologies, Inc. to develop test systems and solutions for autonomous driving software and hardware validation; and Foretellix Ltd. to enhance the safety of advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. The company was incorporated in 1976 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Analyst Ratings Changes
NATI has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of National Instruments from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 14th. TheStreet downgraded shares of National Instruments from a "b-" rating to a "c+" rating in a report on Thursday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of National Instruments from $48.00 to $43.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $45.60.
National Instruments Trading Up 2.1 %
NASDAQ:NATI traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $42.91. The company's stock had a trading volume of 630,178 shares, compared to its average volume of 775,887. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.00 and a beta of 1.17. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.92. National Instruments has a 1 year low of $29.81 and a 1 year high of $45.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 2.49.
National Instruments (NASDAQ:NATI - Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 28th. The technology company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.34 by $0.02. National Instruments had a net margin of 6.71% and a return on equity of 15.63%. The firm had revenue of $395.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $388.98 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.23 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that National Instruments will post 1.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.
National Instruments Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 8th will be given a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 5th. National Instruments's payout ratio is 143.59%.
Insider Buying and Selling at National Instruments
In other National Instruments news, EVP Jason Elliot Green sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.51, for a total value of $86,275.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 91,908 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,745.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Jason Elliot Green sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.51, for a total transaction of $86,275.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 91,908 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,745.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Eric Howard Starkloff sold 900 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.00, for a total transaction of $37,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 287,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,065,676. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 15,900 shares of company stock worth $611,750. 0.64% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
