Wealthfront Advisers LLC reduced its position in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) by 11.6% during the first quarter, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After selling 1,588 shares, the firm now holds 12,151 shares in the communications equipment provider, valued at approximately $5.32 million by the end of the quarter.
Other institutional investors have similarly adjusted their stakes in Motorola Solutions. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its holdings by 6.8%, bringing its total to 30,743 shares, worth $13.46 million. Additionally, the firm increased its position in the company by 4.3% in the same quarter, now owning 68,295 shares valued at $29.9 million. Lord & Richards Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Motorola Solutions, valued at $290,000. Dakota Wealth Management also increased its holdings by 4.0%, acquiring 126 additional shares for a total of 3,286 shares worth $1.44 million. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. purchased a new position valued at $1.24 million. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds now control 84.17% of Motorola Solutions' shares.
At the start of the week, Motorola Solutions' stock price was $421.06. With a market capitalization of $70.28 billion, the company maintains a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.15 and a P/E/G ratio of 3.58. The stock has fluctuated within the past 12 months, reaching a low of $385.17 and a high of $507.82.
The company’s latest earnings report, released on May 1st, showed a remarkable $3.18 in earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations of $3.01. With a net margin of 18.67% and an impressive return on equity of 160.93%, Motorola Solutions generated revenue of $2.53 billion for the quarter—just above the forecasted $2.52 billion. While earnings per share declined from $2.81 in the same quarter last year, the company experienced a 5.8% increase in revenue compared to the previous year.
Motorola Solutions also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.09 per share, paid on July 15th. The dividend provides a 1.04% yield based on an annualized payout of $4.36, and the company's dividend payout ratio stands at 36.39%.
On the insider trading front, Katherine A. Maher, the Chief Accounting Officer, sold 1,073 shares on May 29th for $418.68 each, totaling $449,243.64. Following the sale, Maher retained 804 shares valued at $336,618.72, marking a significant reduction in ownership. Insider ownership now accounts for just 1.44% of the company’s stock.
Several research firms have recently provided ratings and price targets for Motorola Solutions. UBS Group initiated coverage with a "buy" rating and a target price of $490.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target from $570.00 to $515.00 but maintained an "overweight" rating. William Blair reaffirmed its "outperform" rating, while Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock from "buy" to "hold". Wolfe Research, which initiated coverage, set a "peer perform" rating. Currently, three analysts rate the stock as a "hold," while nine recommend buying it, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating and an average price target of $510.67.
Motorola Solutions continues to serve as a key provider of public safety and enterprise security solutions across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and globally. The company operates in two segments: Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. Its offerings include communication systems, devices, video security solutions, and the integration of these technologies for government, commercial, and public safety sectors.