Brunswick (NYSE:BC) Receives Neutral Rating from Robert W. Baird

Robert W. Baird reissued their neutral rating on shares of Brunswick (NYSE:BC) in a research report sent to investors on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Robert W. Baird currently has a $56.00 price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of $90.00.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. B. Riley raised Brunswick to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Roth Mkm dropped their price target on Brunswick from $91.00 to $85.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Brunswick from $95.00 to $86.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, DA Davidson dropped their target price on Brunswick from $80.00 to $60.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $79.00.

Brunswick Price Performance

NYSE:BC opened at $46.60 on Friday. Brunswick has a 12-month low of $42.83 and a 12-month high of $94.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.53 and a beta of 1.54. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $60.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

Brunswick (NYSE:BC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.06. Brunswick had a return on equity of 15.41% and a net margin of 2.48%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.45 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Brunswick will post 4.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Brunswick Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a $0.43 dividend. This is a positive change from Brunswick’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. Brunswick’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 90.53%.

Insider Transactions at Brunswick

In other news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 433 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.65, for a total transaction of $28,426.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 25,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,664,949.65. The trade was a 1.68 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Randall S. Altman sold 3,417 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.21, for a total value of $215,988.57. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 26,683 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,686,632.43. This represents a 11.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brunswick

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Brunswick by 47.7% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 6,865 shares of the company’s stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 2,218 shares in the last quarter. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Brunswick in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,889,000. iSAM Funds UK Ltd bought a new position in Brunswick in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $356,000. Twinbeech Capital LP acquired a new stake in Brunswick during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,907,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its holdings in Brunswick by 190.7% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 68,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,456,000 after acquiring an additional 45,200 shares during the last quarter. 99.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Brunswick

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands.