Confluence Investment Management LLC Lowers Holdings in Nordson Co. (NASDAQ:NDSN)

Confluence Investment Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Nordson Co. (NASDAQ:NDSN) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 155,057 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,327 shares during the period. Confluence Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Nordson were worth $32,444,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Nordson by 13.2% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 173,373 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $45,533,000 after acquiring an additional 20,217 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Nordson by 23.6% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 321,742 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $84,499,000 after purchasing an additional 61,430 shares in the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC raised its position in Nordson by 47.5% in the 3rd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 15,677 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $4,117,000 after purchasing an additional 5,046 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Nordson by 113.8% in the 3rd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 29,170 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $7,661,000 after buying an additional 15,524 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Nordson by 4.7% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 295,962 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $77,723,000 after buying an additional 13,184 shares in the last quarter. 72.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Nordson

In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Mcdonough sold 225 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $262.27, for a total value of $59,010.75. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,287 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $862,081.49. This represents a 6.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen Lovass sold 317 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.75, for a total value of $82,657.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,738,159.50. This represents a 4.54 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 3,629 shares of company stock worth $914,400. 0.86% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Nordson Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Nordson stock traded down $0.58 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $207.88. The company had a trading volume of 38,226 shares, compared to its average volume of 251,042. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 2.41 and a quick ratio of 1.52. The company’s 50-day moving average is $243.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $244.31. The company has a market cap of $11.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.90. Nordson Co. has a twelve month low of $206.80 and a twelve month high of $279.38.

Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 11th. The industrial products company reported $2.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.19. Nordson had a net margin of 17.37% and a return on equity of 19.87%. The company had revenue of $744.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $736.83 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.46 earnings per share. Nordson’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Nordson Co. will post 10.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Nordson Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. Nordson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.47%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $237.00 price target (down previously from $294.00) on shares of Nordson in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Nordson from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Baird R W lowered Nordson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, DA Davidson decreased their price target on Nordson from $295.00 to $285.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $279.00.

Nordson Company Profile

Nordson Corporation engineers, manufactures, and markets products and systems to dispense, apply, and control adhesives, coatings, polymers, sealants, biomaterials, and other fluids worldwide. It operates through three segments: Industrial Precision Solutions; Medical and Fluid Solutions; and Advanced Technology Solutions.