Xylem (NYSE:XYL) Shares Up 6.4% – Still a Buy?

Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL)’s share price rose 6.4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $131.93 and last traded at $130.65. Approximately 367,145 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 1,206,341 shares. The stock had previously closed at $122.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

XYL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Xylem from $163.00 to $162.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Wolfe Research reissued a “peer perform” rating on shares of Xylem in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Xylem from $166.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Xylem from $148.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Xylem from $138.00 to $125.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $150.50.

Xylem Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $120.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market cap of $31.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.95, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.07.

Xylem Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 26th were paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 26th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.11%. Xylem’s dividend payout ratio is presently 42.11%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its stake in shares of Xylem by 231.5% in the fourth quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 5,561,661 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $644,039,000 after purchasing an additional 3,883,845 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB increased its stake in Xylem by 23.1% during the 4th quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 3,683,201 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $427,325,000 after buying an additional 691,618 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new stake in shares of Xylem during the 3rd quarter worth about $68,593,000. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new stake in shares of Xylem in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $52,169,000. Finally, Champlain Investment Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Xylem by 17.8% in the 3rd quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,657,785 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $223,851,000 after acquiring an additional 249,975 shares during the period. 87.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Xylem Company Profile

Xylem Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions worldwide. It operates through four segments: Water Infrastructure, Applied Water, Measurement & Control Solutions, and Integrated Solutions and Services. The Water Infrastructure segment offers products, including water, storm water, and wastewater pumps; controls and systems; filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment equipment; and mobile dewatering equipment and rental services under the ADI, Flygt, Godwin, Sanitaire, Magneto, Neptune Benson, Ionpure, Leopold, Wedeco, and Xylem Vue brands.