Yousif Capital Management LLC Trims Stock Holdings in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD)

Yousif Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,116 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 1,246 shares during the quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC’s holdings in General Dynamics were worth $13,996,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GD. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in General Dynamics by 21.3% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 52,532 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $15,875,000 after purchasing an additional 9,208 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of General Dynamics by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,834 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $1,159,000 after purchasing an additional 563 shares in the last quarter. WealthBridge Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $250,000. Diversified Trust Co raised its stake in General Dynamics by 7.1% during the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 2,163 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $654,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in General Dynamics by 26.6% in the third quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 2,486 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $751,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at General Dynamics

In other news, VP Christopher J. Brady sold 5,540 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.91, for a total transaction of $1,556,241.40. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 20,296 shares in the company, valued at $5,701,349.36. This trade represents a 21.44 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Laura J. Schumacher sold 1,796 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.68, for a total transaction of $459,201.28. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,857,224. This trade represents a 13.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

General Dynamics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GD opened at $257.64 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.84 billion, a PE ratio of 18.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.61. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $266.56 and its 200-day moving average price is $286.50. General Dynamics Co. has a twelve month low of $247.01 and a twelve month high of $316.90.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.29 by ($0.14). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.10% and a net margin of 7.93%. Equities research analysts expect that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.88 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 4th that authorizes the company to buyback 10,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the aerospace company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

General Dynamics Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. General Dynamics’s payout ratio is 41.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna reduced their price target on General Dynamics from $315.00 to $300.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $300.00 target price (down from $345.00) on shares of General Dynamics in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $303.00 to $295.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Wolfe Research lowered shares of General Dynamics from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on General Dynamics from $279.00 to $276.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, General Dynamics presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $300.06.

General Dynamics Profile

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.