Wellington Management Group LLP reduced its holdings in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) by 16.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company’s latest filing with the SEC. After selling 203,860 shares, the institutional investor now owns 1,062,186 shares of the communications equipment provider, which represents roughly 0.64% of the company. These shares were valued at approximately $490.97 million as of the last reporting period.
In addition to Wellington Management, other institutional investors and hedge funds have recently adjusted their positions in Motorola Solutions. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake worth $1.53 billion during the fourth quarter, while Norges Bank also purchased a new position valued at $1.07 billion. Meanwhile, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership significantly increased its stake by 330.1%, adding 484,727 shares to reach a total of 631,551 shares, valued at $291.92 million. Proficio Capital Partners LLC saw an even more dramatic increase, boosting its holdings by 56,562.5%, now owning 315,610 shares worth $145.88 million. Vanguard Group Inc. also increased its position by 1.5%, acquiring an additional 310,919 shares, bringing its total holdings to 21,179,834 shares valued at $9.79 billion. In total, institutional investors own 84.17% of the company’s stock.
Motorola Solutions' shares opened at $438.07 on Tuesday. The stock has fluctuated between a 12-month low of $332.98 and a high of $507.82. The company’s financial ratios include a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.30, a current ratio of 1.28, and a quick ratio of 1.13. Its 50-day moving average is $442.93, while the 200-day moving average stands at $459.61. The company’s market capitalization is $73.13 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47.51, a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 3.82, and a beta of 1.03.
Motorola Solutions reported its quarterly earnings on February 13, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.75, which missed the consensus estimate of $3.85 by $0.10. The company’s revenue for the quarter was $3.01 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $3 billion. Motorola’s return on equity stood at an impressive 197.59%, with a net margin of 14.58%. Analysts predict that Motorola Solutions will post earnings of $13.55 per share for the current year.
In terms of dividends, Motorola recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.09 per share, to be paid on April 15. Stockholders of record on March 14 will be eligible for the dividend. This reflects an annualized dividend of $4.36, yielding 1.00%, with a payout ratio of 47.29%.
The company has been the subject of recent analyst reports, with Morgan Stanley raising its target price from $495.00 to $505.00, while maintaining an “equal weight” rating. Barclays adjusted its target price slightly down from $529.00 to $527.00, while keeping an “overweight” rating. StockNews.com upgraded its rating from “hold” to “buy” on February 18. Currently, one analyst holds a “hold” rating, while eight analysts have assigned a “buy” rating. The consensus rating for Motorola Solutions is “Moderate Buy,” with a target price of $505.88.
Motorola Solutions is a leader in providing public safety and enterprise security solutions, operating across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company’s operations are divided into two segments: Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security solutions, as well as the integration and implementation of systems for government, public safety, and commercial clients.