Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK – Get Rating) SVP Cyril Perducat sold 664 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.75, for a total transaction of $144,586.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,576 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $343,174. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Shares of ROK opened at $218.27 on Friday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $191.07 and a fifty-two week high of $354.99. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $240.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $284.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.38 billion, a PE ratio of 39.69, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK – Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 3rd. The industrial products company reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.27 by ($0.61). Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 35.96% and a net margin of 8.81%. The business had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.98 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.41 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.24 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, May 3rd that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to reacquire up to 4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.12 per share. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 12th. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio is presently 81.45%.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of Rockwell Automation by 35.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,892,850 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,706,871,000 after purchasing an additional 1,272,634 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $387,237,000. Harding Loevner LP increased its position in Rockwell Automation by 1,612,383.6% during the 1st quarter. Harding Loevner LP now owns 886,866 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $180,229,000 after purchasing an additional 886,811 shares in the last quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 1st quarter worth approximately $120,251,000. Finally, Ninety One UK Ltd grew its position in Rockwell Automation by 74.9% in the first quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 860,465 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $240,956,000 after acquiring an additional 368,508 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.21% of the company’s stock.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $261.00 to $212.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 4th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $357.00 to $310.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 4th. TheStreet lowered shares of Rockwell Automation from a “b-” rating to a “c” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Finally, Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $345.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $266.39.

About Rockwell Automation (Get Rating)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products, and services.

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