Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG) Reaches New 12-Month Low – What’s Next?

Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $36.10 and last traded at $36.26, with a volume of 608 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $36.77.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on HUBG shares. Barclays reduced their target price on Hub Group from $52.00 to $50.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Benchmark increased their price objective on Hub Group from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Susquehanna upgraded Hub Group from a “neutral” rating to a “positive” rating and set a $55.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Hub Group in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $41.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Hub Group from $46.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $47.82.

Hub Group Trading Up 1.8 %

The company has a market capitalization of $2.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.04 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $41.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $44.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.

Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The transportation company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.48. Hub Group had a return on equity of 7.10% and a net margin of 2.64%. Research analysts predict that Hub Group, Inc. will post 2.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hub Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. Hub Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.41%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hub Group

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in Hub Group by 48.4% during the fourth quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 950 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in Hub Group by 286.2% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,541 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 1,142 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in Hub Group by 803.3% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,888 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 1,679 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Hub Group by 24.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,261 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $103,000 after buying an additional 450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its position in Hub Group by 35.3% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,568 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 670 shares in the last quarter. 46.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Hub Group

Hub Group, Inc, a supply chain solutions provider, offers transportation and logistics management services in North America. The company's transportation services include intermodal, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, temperature-controlled, and dedicated and regional trucking, as well as final mile, railcar, small parcel, and international transportation.