Munro Partners Increases Stake in Motorola Solutions
Munro Partners has expanded its holdings in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI), increasing its position by 30.4% during the third quarter, according to the firm’s latest SEC filing. Munro now owns 202,760 shares of the communications equipment provider, having added an additional 47,285 shares during the period. Motorola Solutions now represents approximately 2.5% of Munro Partners’ investment portfolio, ranking it as the 18th largest holding. By the end of the most recent reporting period, Munro’s stake in Motorola Solutions was valued at $92.72 million.
Other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Motorola Solutions. Obermeyer Wealth Partners raised its stake by an impressive 261%, acquiring 5,837 additional shares in the second quarter, bringing its total holdings to 8,073 shares valued at $3.39 million. Similarly, Machina Capital S.A.S. increased its holdings by 345.3%, adding 10,816 shares, and now owns 13,948 shares worth $5.87 million.
Other notable investors include Whalen Wealth Management Inc., which acquired a new position valued at $257,000, and Rockline Wealth Management LLC, which invested about $333,000. Aware Super Pty Ltd also grew its stake by 101.5%, acquiring 35,374 additional shares to reach a total of 70,231 shares valued at $29.53 million.
As of the latest figures, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 84.17% of Motorola Solutions’ stock.
Motorola Solutions Stock Performance
The stock opened at $378.60 on Wednesday, reflecting a market capitalization of $63.06 billion. Motorola Solutions boasts a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97, and a beta of 0.99. The company’s 50-day moving average stands at $392.44, while its 200-day moving average is $426.18. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 3.59, with a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Motorola Solutions’ stock has fluctuated between a 1-year low of $359.36 and a high of $492.22.
Earnings and Dividend Update
Motorola Solutions reported impressive quarterly earnings for the period ending October 31, with a reported $4.06 earnings per share (EPS), exceeding analysts' expectations of $3.85. This performance is a testament to the company’s strong return on equity of 118.48% and a net margin of 18.71%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter reached $3.01 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.99 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.8%.
Additionally, the company has announced a quarterly dividend of $1.21 per share, set to be paid on January 15, 2025. This dividend represents an annualized amount of $4.84 and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is December 15, 2024. The dividend payout ratio stands at 38.84%, an increase from the previous quarter's dividend of just $0.01.
Analyst Ratings and Future Outlook
Motorola Solutions has received mixed analyst ratings. Evercore ISI raised its price target from $500.00 to $525.00, maintaining an "outperform" rating, while Piper Sandler lowered its target price to $465.00, maintaining a "neutral" rating. Northcoast Research upgraded its rating from "neutral" to "buy" and set a target price of $450.00. Barclays revised its price objective downward to $495.00, with an "overweight" rating. Weiss Ratings maintained a "hold" rating.
Currently, six analysts have a "buy" rating on the stock, while four analysts have rated it as "hold." The consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a price target of $495.00.
Company Overview
Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communications and analytics solutions for public safety and commercial customers. The company offers a wide range of products, including land mobile radio (LMR) systems, handheld and vehicle-mounted radios, broadband push-to-talk and LTE solutions, and command-and-control software for incident management. Motorola Solutions also provides video security and analytics systems, ensuring secure, resilient connectivity and situational awareness for users in high-pressure environments like public safety agencies and enterprises.