Country Trust Bank Trims Stock Holdings in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR)

Country Trust Bank cut its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) by 7.3% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,866 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 304 shares during the quarter. Country Trust Bank’s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $479,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Emerson Electric during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Emerson Electric in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Emerson Electric in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Fiduciary Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Emerson Electric in the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Emerson Electric during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Emerson Electric Price Performance

Shares of Emerson Electric stock opened at $130.41 on Friday. Emerson Electric Co. has a 52 week low of $91.64 and a 52 week high of $134.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $127.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.38. The stock has a market cap of $74.27 billion, a PE ratio of 38.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.35.

Emerson Electric Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a dividend of $0.5275 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This is a positive change from Emerson Electric’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. This represents a $2.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. Emerson Electric’s dividend payout ratio is currently 61.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

EMR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Loop Capital boosted their price target on Emerson Electric from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Emerson Electric from $139.00 to $138.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Daiwa America raised shares of Emerson Electric to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Emerson Electric in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Emerson Electric from $145.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $136.45.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Michael H. Train sold 21,525 shares of Emerson Electric stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.96, for a total value of $2,711,289.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 262,408 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,052,911.68. This trade represents a 7.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Emerson Electric Company Profile

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.