OFI Invest Asset Management Takes Position in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW)

OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 2,063 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock, valued at approximately $677,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. First Personal Financial Services bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 77.67% of the company’s stock.

Sherwin-Williams Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE SHW opened at $363.99 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.02. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a twelve month low of $282.09 and a twelve month high of $400.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.55 billion, a PE ratio of 34.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.23. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $352.70 and its 200 day moving average is $365.99.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.07 by $0.02. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 74.50% and a net margin of 11.61%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.81 EPS. Research analysts forecast that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.79 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This is a positive change from Sherwin-Williams’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. Sherwin-Williams’s payout ratio is currently 29.95%.

Insider Activity at Sherwin-Williams

In other Sherwin-Williams news, insider Colin M. Davie sold 2,799 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.30, for a total value of $1,008,479.70. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 5,365 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,933,009.50. The trade was a 34.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SHW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho dropped their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $435.00 to $408.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $438.00 to $415.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Zelman & Associates raised Sherwin-Williams to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $450.00 to $405.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $370.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sherwin-Williams presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $403.31.

Sherwin-Williams Profile

The Sherwin-Williams Company engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coating, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group.