Entropy Technologies LP Acquires Shares of 6,800 Crane (NYSE:CR)

Entropy Technologies LP bought a new position in Crane (NYSE:CR) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 6,800 shares of the conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $1,032,000.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Crane in the third quarter worth $17,062,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Crane by 16.1% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 655,470 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $103,748,000 after purchasing an additional 91,029 shares in the last quarter. Walleye Capital LLC boosted its stake in Crane by 67.2% in the 3rd quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 93,535 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $14,805,000 after purchasing an additional 37,581 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Crane during the 3rd quarter valued at about $4,459,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Crane by 328.3% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 23,790 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,765,000 after purchasing an additional 18,236 shares in the last quarter. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Crane Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE:CR opened at $173.31 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $9.92 billion, a PE ratio of 22.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $161.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $159.83. Crane has a 12 month low of $118.48 and a 12 month high of $188.52.

Crane (NYSE:CR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.07. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.90 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Crane will post 7.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Crane Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This is a boost from Crane’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Crane’s dividend payout ratio is 18.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Alejandro Alcala sold 2,293 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.96, for a total value of $392,011.28. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 32,963 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,635,354.48. This trade represents a 6.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CR. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Crane from $152.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. StockNews.com raised Crane from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. DA Davidson lifted their target price on Crane from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Crane from $176.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Crane has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $174.80.

Crane Profile

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials.