AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) Hits New 12-Month Low – Here’s Why

AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $130.85 and last traded at $132.88, with a volume of 23935 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $140.18.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on ATR. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $190.00 target price (down from $200.00) on shares of AptarGroup in a research report on Monday, February 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of AptarGroup from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of AptarGroup from $185.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Bank of America lowered AptarGroup from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $173.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AptarGroup presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $181.60.

AptarGroup Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $8.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $148.57 and a 200-day moving average of $158.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.38.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.24. AptarGroup had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 15.56%. As a group, analysts anticipate that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AptarGroup Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 5th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.34%. AptarGroup’s dividend payout ratio is 32.49%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AptarGroup

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in AptarGroup by 12.5% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 650 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $102,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AptarGroup by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 961 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $154,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in AptarGroup by 9.1% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,028 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $162,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management grew its holdings in AptarGroup by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 16,683 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $2,621,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in AptarGroup by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,500 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $2,906,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 88.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.