Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Sells 112,111 Shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lowered its position in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) by 15.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 611,398 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 112,111 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $174,731,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ROK. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation in the fourth quarter valued at about $284,177,000. Amundi raised its stake in Rockwell Automation by 26.2% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,073,594 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $580,095,000 after purchasing an additional 430,498 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth approximately $56,887,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,532,000. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 514,690 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $147,093,000 after buying an additional 106,257 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.14, for a total transaction of $145,070.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,905 shares in the company, valued at $552,716.70. This trade represents a 20.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Terry L. Riesterer sold 850 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.21, for a total transaction of $255,178.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,633 shares in the company, valued at $490,242.93. This represents a 34.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,352 shares of company stock worth $1,246,298. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

Rockwell Automation stock opened at $258.22 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.20 billion, a PE ratio of 32.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.39. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 12-month low of $242.81 and a 12-month high of $308.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $278.93 and a 200-day moving average price of $278.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.22. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 30.17% and a net margin of 11.38%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 9.35 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.03%. Rockwell Automation’s payout ratio is 65.26%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on ROK. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $285.00 to $280.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. HSBC raised shares of Rockwell Automation from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $355.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Rockwell Automation from $257.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Rockwell Automation from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, BNP Paribas cut Rockwell Automation from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $307.42.

Rockwell Automation Profile

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.