Isthmus Partners LLC Decreases Stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)

Isthmus Partners LLC trimmed its position in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 14,452 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,052 shares during the quarter. W.W. Grainger accounts for 1.9% of Isthmus Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Isthmus Partners LLC’s holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $15,233,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of GWW. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. United Community Bank raised its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 6.9% during the fourth quarter. United Community Bank now owns 155 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $163,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 14.7% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 459,536 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $491,170,000 after purchasing an additional 58,978 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 205.3% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 116 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $122,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 124.2% in the fourth quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 21,111 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $22,255,000 after purchasing an additional 11,694 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.70% of the company’s stock.

W.W. Grainger Stock Performance

Shares of GWW stock opened at $1,007.06 on Monday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12 month low of $874.98 and a 12 month high of $1,227.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.56 billion, a PE ratio of 26.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.18. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,054.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,076.68. The company has a current ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.75 by ($0.04). W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 11.12% and a return on equity of 52.43%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $8.33 EPS. Analysts forecast that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a dividend of $2.05 per share. This represents a $8.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. W.W. Grainger’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.18%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com downgraded W.W. Grainger from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,113.00 to $1,112.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,125.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group began coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $1,280.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $990.00 to $1,215.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,151.50.

W.W. Grainger Profile

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.