Marshall Wace LLP Invests $5.04 Million in Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC)

Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 149,993 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,040,000. Marshall Wace LLP owned about 0.31% of Edgewell Personal Care as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in EPC. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,799,860 shares of the company’s stock worth $194,875,000 after acquiring an additional 24,850 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,222,739 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,284,000 after purchasing an additional 64,257 shares during the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP lifted its holdings in Edgewell Personal Care by 21.1% during the 4th quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 2,041,665 shares of the company’s stock worth $68,600,000 after buying an additional 355,224 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management boosted its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,166,152 shares of the company’s stock valued at $39,183,000 after buying an additional 74,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, William Blair Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 40.5% in the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 878,390 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,514,000 after buying an additional 253,014 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.91% of the company’s stock.

Edgewell Personal Care Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE EPC opened at $30.62 on Friday. Edgewell Personal Care Co has a twelve month low of $26.65 and a twelve month high of $41.50. The stock has a market cap of $1.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.73 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company’s fifty day moving average is $30.31 and its 200-day moving average is $32.89.

Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by ($0.06). Edgewell Personal Care had a net margin of 4.09% and a return on equity of 9.29%. Equities research analysts predict that Edgewell Personal Care Co will post 3.16 EPS for the current year.

Edgewell Personal Care Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 5th. Edgewell Personal Care’s payout ratio is currently 32.79%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EPC has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Edgewell Personal Care from $35.00 to $32.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their target price on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $53.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Edgewell Personal Care from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $35.71.

About Edgewell Personal Care

Edgewell Personal Care Company is a manufacturer and marketer of personal care products in the wet shave, sun and skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had a portfolio of over 25 brands. It manages its business in four segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, Feminine Care and All Other.