AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) Receives Consensus Rating of “Buy” from Analysts

Shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the seven ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, five have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $190.60.

Several analysts recently weighed in on ATR shares. Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Tuesday. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America cut shares of AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $173.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on AptarGroup from $185.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on AptarGroup from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Dbs Bank upgraded AptarGroup from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Kimberly Chainey sold 964 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.83, for a total transaction of $162,752.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,848 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,324,977.84. This represents a 10.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephan B. Tanda sold 30,000 shares of AptarGroup stock in a transaction on Monday, October 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.60, for a total value of $5,088,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 174,118 shares in the company, valued at $29,530,412.80. The trade was a 14.70 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of AptarGroup

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in AptarGroup by 58.9% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 14,157 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,268,000 after buying an additional 5,248 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. increased its position in shares of AptarGroup by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 2,334 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $367,000 after acquiring an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of AptarGroup by 67.6% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,002 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $157,000 after acquiring an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division boosted its holdings in AptarGroup by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 21,554 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,386,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in AptarGroup by 28.0% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 69,670 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $11,648,000 after purchasing an additional 15,244 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.52% of the company’s stock.

AptarGroup Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSE ATR opened at $153.67 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market cap of $10.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.86, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.59. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $165.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $156.96. AptarGroup has a one year low of $124.94 and a one year high of $178.03.

AptarGroup announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, October 10th that authorizes the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the industrial products company to reacquire up to 4.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

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.