Synergy Asset Management LLC Invests $36,000 in MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM)

Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 482 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $36,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MSM. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,567,038 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $134,859,000 after purchasing an additional 113,878 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 11.1% in the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 918,235 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $79,023,000 after acquiring an additional 91,369 shares during the last quarter. Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN grew its position in MSC Industrial Direct by 5.8% in the third quarter. Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN now owns 641,779 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $55,232,000 after acquiring an additional 35,077 shares during the period. Seizert Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 3.3% during the third quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC now owns 361,783 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $31,135,000 after acquiring an additional 11,585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in MSC Industrial Direct by 15.8% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 258,646 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $22,259,000 after purchasing an additional 35,289 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.26% of the company’s stock.

MSC Industrial Direct Price Performance

Shares of MSM opened at $80.53 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $72.79 and a fifty-two week high of $104.76. The company has a market cap of $4.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.22 and a beta of 0.91. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $81.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.19.

MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 8th. The industrial products company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.13. MSC Industrial Direct had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 6.21%. The business had revenue of $928.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $904.90 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.25 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 3.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSC Industrial Direct Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th were given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 15th. MSC Industrial Direct’s dividend payout ratio is presently 81.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Erik Gershwind sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.36, for a total value of $4,518,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,402,849 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $126,761,435.64. This represents a 3.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Philip Peller sold 900 shares of MSC Industrial Direct stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.07, for a total value of $80,163.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,044 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $360,199.08. This trade represents a 18.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 18.30% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on MSM shares. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on MSC Industrial Direct in a report on Thursday, January 16th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $87.00 to $73.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Stephens downgraded shares of MSC Industrial Direct from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $85.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $84.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $83.80.

MSC Industrial Direct Company Profile

MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.