Dillard’s (NYSE:DDS) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Dillard’s (NYSE:DDS) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Tuesday.

DDS has been the topic of a number of other reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Dillard’s from $194.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price target on shares of Dillard’s from $380.00 to $450.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th.

Dillard’s Price Performance

Dillard’s stock opened at $498.03 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $7.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.82 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $455.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $407.29. Dillard’s has a 12-month low of $328.00 and a 12-month high of $501.41. The company has a current ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

Dillard’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th were given a $25.00 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. Dillard’s’s payout ratio is currently 2.57%.

Insider Transactions at Dillard’s

In other news, VP Tom W. Bolin sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $433.45, for a total value of $130,035.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $505,836.15. This trade represents a 20.45 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 33.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Dillard’s

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its stake in Dillard’s by 68.3% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 3,025 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,303,000 after buying an additional 1,228 shares during the period. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Dillard’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $259,000. Walleye Capital LLC acquired a new position in Dillard’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $427,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Dillard’s by 1,707.7% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 2,115 shares of the company’s stock valued at $913,000 after buying an additional 1,998 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its stake in shares of Dillard’s by 75.3% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 284 shares of the company’s stock worth $122,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.15% of the company’s stock.

About Dillard’s

Dillard’s, Inc engages in the retail of fashion apparel, cosmetics, and home furnishings, and other consumer goods. It operates through the Retail Operations and Construction segments. The Retail Operations segment comprises sells cosmetics, ladies’ apparel, ladies’ accessories and lingerie, juniors’ and children’s apparel, men’s apparel and accessories, shoes, and home and furniture products.