AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) Sees Large Volume Increase Following Strong Earnings

Shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday following a better than expected earnings announcement. Approximately 323,073 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 6% from the previous session’s volume of 304,686 shares.The stock last traded at $143.26 and had previously closed at $156.45.

The industrial products company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a return on equity of 14.92% and a net margin of 9.40%.

AptarGroup Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th will be given a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 5th. AptarGroup’s payout ratio is 36.14%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on ATR. Dbs Bank raised shares of AptarGroup from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of AptarGroup from $185.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on AptarGroup from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Raymond James started coverage on AptarGroup in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of AptarGroup from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $215.00 in a report on Monday, October 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $190.60.

Insider Activity

In other AptarGroup news, EVP Kimberly Chainey sold 964 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.83, for a total transaction of $162,752.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,848 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,324,977.84. The trade was a 10.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of AptarGroup

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Creative Planning increased its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 13.9% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 3,422 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $482,000 after buying an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in AptarGroup in the second quarter valued at about $1,087,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of AptarGroup by 79.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 598 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $96,000 after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its holdings in AptarGroup by 92.5% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,066 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $331,000 after purchasing an additional 993 shares during the period. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in AptarGroup by 446.5% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 235 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. 88.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AptarGroup Stock Down 8.4 %

The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $160.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $158.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.62.

About AptarGroup

AptarGroup, Inc designs and manufactures a range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active material science solutions and services for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through Aptar Pharma, Aptar Beauty, and Aptar Closures segments.