Short Interest in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) Increases By 17.2%

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,590,000 shares, a growth of 17.2% from the January 15th total of 10,740,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,100,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.1 days. Approximately 2.3% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Emerson Electric Price Performance

EMR opened at $123.30 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $125.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.11. The company has a market capitalization of $70.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.40. Emerson Electric has a 1 year low of $96.62 and a 1 year high of $134.85.

Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.10. Emerson Electric had a net margin of 13.74% and a return on equity of 12.08%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Emerson Electric will post 5.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Emerson Electric Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a $0.5275 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. Emerson Electric’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on EMR shares. StockNews.com upgraded Emerson Electric from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Emerson Electric from $136.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Emerson Electric from $105.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Emerson Electric in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $160.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Emerson Electric from $117.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Emerson Electric has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $136.90.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Emerson Electric

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Emerson Electric during the fourth quarter worth about $885,886,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Emerson Electric during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $297,947,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC increased its stake in shares of Emerson Electric by 10,993.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 2,070,428 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $226,443,000 after purchasing an additional 2,051,764 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in Emerson Electric by 107.2% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,896,889 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $422,852,000 after purchasing an additional 2,016,075 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners grew its holdings in Emerson Electric by 136.3% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,316,466 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $411,944,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913,120 shares during the period. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Emerson Electric

Emerson Electric Co, a technology and software company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity.