General Dynamics Corporation $GD Shares Acquired by Van Diest Capital LLC

Van Diest Capital LLC boosted its stake in General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) by 205.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,934 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,301 shares during the period. Van Diest Capital LLC’s holdings in General Dynamics were worth $664,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 1,725.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 73 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Steph & Co. grew its stake in General Dynamics by 65.2% in the fourth quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 76 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new stake in General Dynamics in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in General Dynamics by 79.6% in the first quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC now owns 88 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Center for Financial Planning Inc. raised its stake in General Dynamics by 220.7% during the fourth quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 93 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at General Dynamics

In related news, EVP Mark Lagrand Burns sold 36,480 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.29, for a total value of $12,596,179.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 38,975 shares in the company, valued at $13,457,677.75. This trade represents a 48.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Mark Malcolm sold 5,480 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $365.00, for a total transaction of $2,000,200.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 10,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,884,695. The trade was a 33.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 78,190 shares of company stock worth $27,041,022. Corporate insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock.

General Dynamics Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE GD opened at $386.51 on Friday. General Dynamics Corporation has a 12-month low of $306.03 and a 12-month high of $388.12. The company has a market cap of $104.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $356.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $351.77.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.67 by $0.43. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 8.07%.The firm had revenue of $13.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.66 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that General Dynamics Corporation will post 16.66 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.59 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 2nd. This represents a $6.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. General Dynamics’s dividend payout ratio is currently 40.03%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on GD shares. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their target price on General Dynamics from $430.00 to $390.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on General Dynamics from $327.00 to $313.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $385.00 price objective on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $400.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $400.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, General Dynamics currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $391.15.

Trending Headlines about General Dynamics

Here are the key news stories impacting General Dynamics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: GD has hit a 52-week high, reflecting strong momentum and investor confidence in the defense contractor’s outlook. General Dynamics Corporation (GD) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts are focusing on GD’s upcoming Q2 results, with attention on a record backlog and improving defense operations, which could support the stock if management delivers strong numbers and positive commentary on submarines and Gulfstream. General Dynamics to Release Q2 Earnings: Here’s What to Expect
• Positive Sentiment: Recent investor sentiment has also been helped by broader strength in defense stocks, with peers posting solid results and raising guidance, which has lifted expectations for GD ahead of its July 29 earnings release. Why General Dynamics (GD) Stock Is Up Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street is also watching GD’s Q2 estimates and key operating metrics closely, suggesting the market may be waiting for confirmation that recent strength is sustainable rather than purely speculative. General Dynamics (GD) Q2 Earnings on the Horizon: Analysts’ Insights on Key Performance Measures
• Neutral Sentiment: One article compared GD’s value profile with GE Aerospace, reinforcing that investors still see GD as a large-cap defense name with valuation appeal, but not necessarily a fresh catalyst by itself. GD vs. GE: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

General Dynamics Profile

General Dynamics is a major American aerospace and defense contractor that designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of products and services for government and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in the United States (Reston, Virginia), the company supplies platforms and systems used by armed forces, civil authorities and private operators across multiple domains including air, land, sea and cyber.

Its principal activities span several operating businesses: a business aviation unit that develops and supports Gulfstream business jets; land systems that produce armored combat vehicles and related logistics and sustainment services; marine systems that design and construct submarines and surface ships for navies; and mission systems and information technology operations that provide command-and-control, communications, cybersecurity and systems-integration services.