H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) Shares Sold by Gabelli Funds LLC

Gabelli Funds LLC lessened its stake in shares of H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) by 3.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 331,000 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after selling 13,000 shares during the quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in H.B. Fuller were worth $26,394,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of H.B. Fuller by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 11,353 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $924,000 after buying an additional 179 shares during the period. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division acquired a new stake in H.B. Fuller in the first quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new stake in shares of H.B. Fuller during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $134,000. Security National Bank of SO Dak acquired a new position in shares of H.B. Fuller during the fourth quarter worth $236,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of H.B. Fuller by 9.9% in the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 45,152 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $3,600,000 after purchasing an additional 4,077 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.93% of the company’s stock.

H.B. Fuller Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of FUL stock traded up $1.40 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $85.21. 217,122 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 397,176. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.89. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $79.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.46. The company has a market capitalization of $4.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.44. H.B. Fuller has a fifty-two week low of $64.64 and a fifty-two week high of $86.92.

H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 27th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $917.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $914.22 million. H.B. Fuller had a net margin of 4.67% and a return on equity of 13.33%. The company’s revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.93 EPS. Research analysts predict that H.B. Fuller will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current year.

H.B. Fuller Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.2225 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 31st. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. This is a boost from H.B. Fuller’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. H.B. Fuller’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.38%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of H.B. Fuller from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, April 1st. StockNews.com upgraded H.B. Fuller from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, H.B. Fuller presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $92.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Heather Campe sold 23,696 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.66, for a total value of $1,958,711.36. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,631,873.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Zhiwei Cai sold 4,645 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.15, for a total transaction of $349,071.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 30,663 shares in the company, valued at $2,304,324.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Heather Campe sold 23,696 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.66, for a total transaction of $1,958,711.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 19,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,631,873.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

H.B. Fuller Profile

H.B. Fuller Company, together with its subsidiaries, formulates, manufactures, and markets adhesives, sealants, coatings, polymers, tapes, encapsulants, additives, and other specialty chemical products. It operates through three segments: Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives; Engineering Adhesives; and Construction Adhesives.