Metis Global Partners LLC Has $2.15 Million Holdings in Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)

Metis Global Partners LLC decreased its holdings in Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,493 shares of the company’s stock after selling 472 shares during the quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Church & Dwight were worth $2,146,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Church & Dwight by 0.8% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 50,056 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,242,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new position in Church & Dwight during the 4th quarter valued at $639,000. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas purchased a new position in Church & Dwight during the 3rd quarter worth $5,934,000. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of Church & Dwight by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 337,738 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,368,000 after acquiring an additional 28,129 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Enhancement Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Church & Dwight by 456.2% in the fourth quarter. Financial Enhancement Group LLC now owns 60,585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,232,000 after purchasing an additional 49,693 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.60% of the company’s stock.

Church & Dwight Stock Performance

Shares of CHD stock opened at $111.32 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $105.71 and its 200 day moving average is $105.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.97, a PEG ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.59. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $96.35 and a 12 month high of $113.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Church & Dwight (NYSE:CHD) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.77. Church & Dwight had a return on equity of 20.03% and a net margin of 9.58%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.65 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Church & Dwight Co., Inc. will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Church & Dwight Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Church & Dwight’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Church & Dwight’s payout ratio is presently 49.79%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on CHD. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Church & Dwight from $114.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Church & Dwight from $107.00 to $106.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 21st. TD Cowen upped their target price on Church & Dwight from $114.00 to $117.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Church & Dwight from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $105.00 price objective on shares of Church & Dwight in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Church & Dwight has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $111.56.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Michael Read purchased 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $106.82 per share, with a total value of $117,502.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive vice president now owns 2,505 shares in the company, valued at $267,584.10. This trade represents a 78.29 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ravichandra Krishnamu Saligram sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.11, for a total value of $1,061,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 32,500 shares in the company, valued at $3,448,575. This trade represents a 23.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Church & Dwight Company Profile

Church & Dwight Co, Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of household, personal care, and specialty products. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Domestic, Consumer International, Specialty Products, and Corporate. The Consumer Domestic segment offers household products, such as laundry detergents, fabric softener sheets, cat litter, and household cleaning products, and personal care products including antiperspirants, oral care products, depilatories, reproductive health products, oral analgesics, nasal saline moisturizers, and dietary supplements.