Ashton Thomas Securities LLC Grows Stock Position in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT)

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT) by 5.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,734 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $2,300,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Lockheed Martin during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the fourth quarter worth $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on LMT shares. Bank of America cut shares of Lockheed Martin from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $685.00 to $485.00 in a research note on Monday. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $579.00 price target for the company. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $527.00 to $508.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Lockheed Martin from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $544.20.

Lockheed Martin Trading Down 1.1 %

NYSE:LMT opened at $434.72 on Tuesday. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 12 month low of $419.70 and a 12 month high of $618.95. The stock has a market cap of $102.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $459.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $513.50.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $7.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.58 by $1.09. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 101.47%. Equities analysts predict that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 27.15 EPS for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $3.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $13.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.04%. Lockheed Martin’s payout ratio is presently 59.30%.

Insider Activity at Lockheed Martin

In other Lockheed Martin news, VP Harry Edward Paul III sold 707 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $442.61, for a total value of $312,925.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,278 shares in the company, valued at $1,008,265.58. This represents a 23.69 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. sold 3,213 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $442.42, for a total transaction of $1,421,495.46. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $884,840. The trade was a 61.63 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 7,133 shares of company stock valued at $3,155,916 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Lockheed Martin Profile

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.