Church & Dwight (NYSE:CHD) Sets New 1-Year High on Earnings Beat

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $111.23 and last traded at $106.8430, with a volume of 271,330 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $106.00.

The company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. Church & Dwight had a net margin of 11.96% and a return on equity of 20.10%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.81 earnings per share.

Church & Dwight Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $0.3075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $1.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Church & Dwight’s dividend payout ratio is presently 39.55%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen set a $97.00 target price on shares of Church & Dwight and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Church & Dwight from $110.00 to $105.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Church & Dwight in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Morgan Stanley set a $112.00 price objective on Church & Dwight in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $115.00 price objective on shares of Church & Dwight in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $105.06.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Rene Hemsey sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.25, for a total transaction of $511,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 8,086 shares in the company, valued at $826,793.50. This trade represents a 38.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Carlos Linares sold 15,375 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.00, for a total value of $1,568,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,668 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $476,136. This trade represents a 76.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 53,250 shares of company stock worth $5,462,048. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Church & Dwight

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new position in Church & Dwight during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Church & Dwight during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Field & Main Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Church & Dwight during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Triumph Capital Management lifted its holdings in Church & Dwight by 516.4% in the third quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 376 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Church & Dwight in the first quarter worth approximately $38,000. 86.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Church & Dwight Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $25.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.43, a PEG ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.49. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $99.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $97.56.

About Church & Dwight

Church & Dwight Co, Inc is a consumer packaged goods company that develops, manufactures and markets household, personal care and specialty products. Its portfolio is anchored by the ARM & HAMMER brand, which is used across products such as baking soda, laundry detergent, cat litter, household cleaners, oral care products and personal care items.

The company also markets a broad range of branded products, including OxiClean laundry and cleaning products, Trojan sexual wellness products, Waterpik oral health devices, First Response pregnancy and fertility tests, Nair hair-removal products, Orajel oral pain relief, TheraBreath oral care products, and vitamins and supplements sold under the Vitafusion and L’il Critters brands.