Monarch Capital Management Inc. Lowers Stake in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR)

Monarch Capital Management Inc. cut its position in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) by 1.5% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 62,176 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 948 shares during the quarter. Emerson Electric accounts for approximately 1.9% of Monarch Capital Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Monarch Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $6,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EMR. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC increased its stake in shares of Emerson Electric by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC now owns 28,184 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,090,000 after purchasing an additional 621 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP grew its stake in Emerson Electric by 26.1% during the first quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 2,226,690 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $244,134,000 after acquiring an additional 460,460 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in Emerson Electric by 864.5% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 84,745 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $9,291,000 after buying an additional 75,959 shares in the last quarter. Ibex Wealth Advisors boosted its stake in Emerson Electric by 12.6% during the first quarter. Ibex Wealth Advisors now owns 30,723 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,368,000 after buying an additional 3,435 shares during the period. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Emerson Electric during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,429,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.30% of the company’s stock.

Emerson Electric Stock Performance

NYSE EMR opened at $126.98 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $71.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Emerson Electric Co. has a fifty-two week low of $90.06 and a fifty-two week high of $134.85. The business has a fifty day moving average of $110.49 and a 200-day moving average of $118.46.

Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The industrial products company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.07. Emerson Electric had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 13.74%. The company had revenue of $4.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.42 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.36 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Emerson Electric Co. will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Emerson Electric Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.5275 per share. This represents a $2.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 16th. Emerson Electric’s payout ratio is currently 50.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on EMR shares. Barclays upped their target price on Emerson Electric from $112.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday. Wall Street Zen raised Emerson Electric from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup raised their target price on Emerson Electric from $133.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Emerson Electric from $121.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Emerson Electric from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Emerson Electric presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $135.00.

Insider Activity

In other Emerson Electric news, CEO Surendralal Lanca Karsanbhai sold 16,698 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.33, for a total transaction of $1,892,384.34. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 164,957 shares in the company, valued at $18,694,576.81. This trade represents a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

About Emerson Electric

Emerson Electric Co, a technology and software company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity.