AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) Shares Sold by California Public Employees Retirement System

California Public Employees Retirement System lowered its holdings in AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) by 3.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 111,667 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 4,371 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned about 0.17% of AptarGroup worth $17,543,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in shares of AptarGroup by 15.7% during the fourth quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 312,955 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $49,165,000 after buying an additional 42,368 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC boosted its stake in AptarGroup by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 19,661 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,089,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its holdings in AptarGroup by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 9,513 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,494,000 after acquiring an additional 1,146 shares in the last quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AptarGroup in the 4th quarter worth about $7,957,000. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of AptarGroup in the 4th quarter valued at about $116,265,000. 88.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AptarGroup Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATR opened at $140.09 on Friday. AptarGroup, Inc. has a 52 week low of $135.96 and a 52 week high of $178.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.29, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.56. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $148.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $158.45.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 15.56%. Analysts anticipate that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 earnings per share for the current year.

AptarGroup Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 5th. AptarGroup’s payout ratio is currently 32.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $190.00 price objective (down from $200.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Monday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on AptarGroup from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on AptarGroup from $185.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Bank of America lowered shares of AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $173.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, AptarGroup presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $181.60.

About AptarGroup

AptarGroup, Inc designs and manufactures a range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active material science solutions and services for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through Aptar Pharma, Aptar Beauty, and Aptar Closures segments.