Oil-Dri Co. of America (NYSE:ODC) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

Oil-Dri Co. of America (NYSE:ODC) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Oil-Dri Co. of America Stock Performance

NYSE ODC traded down $2.27 during trading on Monday, reaching $41.51. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 40,912 shares, compared to its average volume of 37,102. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $23.44 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 2.63. The firm has a market cap of $302.90 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.71 and a beta of 0.53. Oil-Dri Co. of America has a twelve month low of $29.47 and a twelve month high of $46.50.

Oil-Dri Co. of America (NYSE:ODC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, December 9th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Oil-Dri Co. of America had a net margin of 9.92% and a return on equity of 21.84%.

Insider Transactions at Oil-Dri Co. of America

In other news, VP Laura G. Scheland sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.32, for a total value of $173,175.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 61,360 shares in the company, valued at $1,062,601.80. This trade represents a 14.01 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 11.66% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Oil-Dri Co. of America by 81.6% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 445 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Oil-Dri Co. of America by 12.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,401 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $166,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Oil-Dri Co. of America in the third quarter valued at $216,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its stake in shares of Oil-Dri Co. of America by 30.2% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 4,253 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $293,000 after buying an additional 986 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its position in shares of Oil-Dri Co. of America by 40.8% in the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 4,772 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $306,000 after buying an additional 1,383 shares in the last quarter. 49.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Oil-Dri Co. of America

Oil-Dri Corporation of America, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets sorbent products in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Retail and Wholesale Products Group, and Business to Business Products Group. The company provides agricultural and horticultural products, including mineral-based absorbent products that serve as carriers for biological and chemical active ingredients, drying agents, and growing media under the Agsorb, Verge, and Flo-Fre brand names.