Brokerages Set General Electric (NYSE:GE) Price Target at $211.31

General Electric (NYSE:GE) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fifteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $211.31.

GE has been the topic of several analyst reports. Northcoast Research initiated coverage on General Electric in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on General Electric from $190.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on General Electric from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on General Electric from $235.00 to $228.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on General Electric from $215.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On General Electric

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC grew its position in General Electric by 26.2% in the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 236 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE grew its position in shares of General Electric by 17.6% during the fourth quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 334 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Ballast Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. Ballast Advisors LLC now owns 2,093 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $349,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Blue Barn Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Barn Wealth LLC now owns 1,466 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $245,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Heartland Consultants Inc. grew its position in shares of General Electric by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. now owns 4,729 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $789,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. 74.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

General Electric Trading Up 2.9 %

Shares of GE stock opened at $207.22 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $190.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $182.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $222.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.59, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.21. General Electric has a fifty-two week low of $124.08 and a fifty-two week high of $212.19.

General Electric (NYSE:GE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.27. General Electric had a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 14.31%. Research analysts expect that General Electric will post 5.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a $0.36 dividend. This is an increase from General Electric’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.69%. General Electric’s payout ratio is currently 24.04%.

About General Electric

General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, designs and produces commercial and defense aircraft engines, integrated engine components, electric power, and mechanical aircraft systems. It also offers aftermarket services to support its products. The company operates in the United States, Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.