Gentex (NASDAQ:GNTX) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Gentex Co. (NASDAQ:GNTX)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $22.83 and last traded at $22.91, with a volume of 135899 shares. The stock had previously closed at $23.52.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on GNTX. Robert W. Baird set a $31.00 price objective on shares of Gentex in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Gentex from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Guggenheim set a $30.00 price objective on shares of Gentex in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Gentex from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, B. Riley reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $32.50 price objective (down from $37.00) on shares of Gentex in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Gentex currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $31.81.

Gentex Price Performance

The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $24.92 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.87, a PEG ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 0.90.

Gentex (NASDAQ:GNTX) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.10). Gentex had a return on equity of 16.74% and a net margin of 17.49%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Gentex Co. will post 2.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gentex Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 9th. Gentex’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.27%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GNTX. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Gentex during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Gentex by 138.8% in the 4th quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,139 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 662 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Gentex in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its stake in Gentex by 32.5% during the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 2,419 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 593 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC raised its stake in Gentex by 33.2% during the fourth quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 2,750 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. 86.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Gentex Company Profile

Gentex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and supplies digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass, and fire protection products in the United States, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, and internationally. It operates through Automotive Products and Other segments. The company offers automotive products, including interior and exterior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, automotive electronics, and non-automatic-dimming rearview mirrors for automotive passenger cars, light trucks, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans for original equipment manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and various aftermarket and accessory customers.