Brokerages Set AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) PT at $190.60

AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) has received a consensus rating of “Buy” from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $190.60.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on ATR. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on AptarGroup from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America lowered AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $173.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded AptarGroup from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $155.00 to $215.00 in a report on Monday, October 14th. Raymond James initiated coverage on shares of AptarGroup in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Dbs Bank upgraded shares of AptarGroup from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th.

AptarGroup Stock Down 1.2 %

ATR opened at $156.44 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.41 billion, a PE ratio of 31.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.15. AptarGroup has a fifty-two week low of $129.37 and a fifty-two week high of $178.03. The business has a 50-day moving average of $160.78 and a 200-day moving average of $158.90.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a net margin of 9.40% and a return on equity of 14.92%. Equities research analysts forecast that AptarGroup will post 5.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AptarGroup Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th will be given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 5th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. AptarGroup’s dividend payout ratio is 36.14%.

AptarGroup declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, October 10th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to buy up to 4.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at AptarGroup

In other news, EVP Kimberly Chainey sold 964 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.83, for a total transaction of $162,752.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,848 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,324,977.84. The trade was a 10.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AptarGroup

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of AptarGroup in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of AptarGroup by 446.5% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 235 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in AptarGroup in the fourth quarter worth $42,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its position in AptarGroup by 312.0% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 342 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. Finally, Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new stake in AptarGroup during the fourth quarter worth $67,000. 88.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AptarGroup Company Profile

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.