Gotham Asset Management LLC Sells 1,712 Shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)

Gotham Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) by 12.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,402 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,712 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLC’s holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $8,543,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 2,450.0% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 51 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.24% of the company’s stock.

W.W. Grainger Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GWW traded down $1.24 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $688.69. 40,262 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 278,835. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1-year low of $483.19 and a 1-year high of $811.60. The company has a market cap of $34.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 2.78. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $733.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $702.24.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The industrial products company reported $9.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.96 by $0.32. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 60.40% and a net margin of 11.04%. The firm had revenue of $4.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.20 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.19 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 36.03 EPS for the current year.

W.W. Grainger Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. W.W. Grainger’s payout ratio is 21.44%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GWW has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on W.W. Grainger from $647.00 to $653.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. StockNews.com cut shares of W.W. Grainger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $795.00 to $790.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $775.00 price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Friday, August 18th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $734.63.

About W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services in the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety and security supplies, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance supplies, and metalworking and hand tools.