Advisory Services Network LLC Cuts Position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Advisory Services Network LLC cut its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) by 36.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,080 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,749 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC’s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $880,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ROK. West Oak Capital LLC increased its position in Rockwell Automation by 455.6% during the fourth quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC grew its position in Rockwell Automation by 41.0% in the fourth quarter. Knuff & Co LLC now owns 141 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

Rockwell Automation Trading Up 1.7 %

Rockwell Automation stock opened at $233.38 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $26.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.06, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $267.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $276.41. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a one year low of $215.00 and a one year high of $308.70.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 30.17%. On average, analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on ROK shares. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Rockwell Automation from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $315.00 to $337.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $257.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised shares of Rockwell Automation from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $297.11.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, SVP Matheus De A. G. Viera Bulho sold 293 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.68, for a total value of $75,500.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,922 shares in the company, valued at approximately $495,260.96. The trade was a 13.23 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Isaac Woods sold 876 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.03, for a total value of $248,810.28. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,057 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $300,219.71. This trade represents a 45.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 3,750 shares of company stock valued at $1,075,923. Company insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Rockwell Automation Company Profile

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.