MAI Capital Management Trims Stock Position in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)

MAI Capital Management reduced its position in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,134 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 121 shares during the quarter. MAI Capital Management’s holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $1,178,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 2,233 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,320,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the period. Concord Asset Management LLC VA grew its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 26.7% during the 3rd quarter. Concord Asset Management LLC VA now owns 2,285 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $2,374,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares during the period. Adero Partners LLC grew its position in W.W. Grainger by 7.6% during the third quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 354 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $368,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 15.3% during the 3rd quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. now owns 5,444 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,655,000 after acquiring an additional 723 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC raised its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 7.7% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 14,607 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $15,174,000 after purchasing an additional 1,041 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.70% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 9,577 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,117.84, for a total value of $10,705,553.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,379 shares in the company, valued at $4,895,021.36. This trade represents a 68.62 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 125 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,206.03, for a total transaction of $150,753.75. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 675 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $814,070.25. This trade represents a 15.63 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 50,900 shares of company stock worth $52,640,733. Corporate insiders own 9.50% of the company’s stock.

W.W. Grainger Trading Up 1.1 %

W.W. Grainger stock opened at $1,190.86 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $1,094.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $995.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.28, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 1.15. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 52-week low of $772.13 and a 52-week high of $1,227.66.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $9.98 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $4.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 51.78%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $9.43 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 38.92 earnings per share for the current year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 11th will be issued a $2.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $8.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.69%. W.W. Grainger’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.23%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on GWW. Northcoast Research started coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Baird R W raised shares of W.W. Grainger from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,000.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Loop Capital lifted their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $900.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of W.W. Grainger to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, September 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $1,109.00.

W.W. Grainger Company 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.