Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI) Stock Price Crosses Below 50 Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI)’s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $31.62 and traded as low as $30.47. Hillenbrand shares last traded at $31.02, with a volume of 397,329 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on HI. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Hillenbrand from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 26th. DA Davidson reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $33.00 price objective on shares of Hillenbrand in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their price objective on Hillenbrand from $45.00 to $40.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 14th.

Hillenbrand Trading Down 0.5 %

The firm has a market cap of $2.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.37 and a beta of 1.43. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $31.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28.

Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 13th. The company reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.08. Hillenbrand had a negative net margin of 6.63% and a positive return on equity of 14.86%. The company had revenue of $837.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $793.38 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.13 EPS. Hillenbrand’s revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Hillenbrand, Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hillenbrand Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a $0.225 dividend. This is a boost from Hillenbrand’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.90%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. Hillenbrand’s dividend payout ratio is currently -30.10%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hillenbrand

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new position in Hillenbrand in the third quarter worth about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Hillenbrand by 107.5% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 614 shares during the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank bought a new position in Hillenbrand in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $48,000. KBC Group NV boosted its stake in Hillenbrand by 32.2% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,263 shares of the company’s stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 551 shares during the last quarter. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hillenbrand in the 3rd quarter worth $75,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.09% of the company’s stock.

About Hillenbrand

Hillenbrand, Inc operates as an industrial company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Advanced Process Solutions and Molding Technology Solutions. The Advanced Process Solutions segment designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and services process and material handling equipment and systems comprising compounding, extrusion, and material handling equipment, equipment system design services, as well as offers mixing technology, ingredient automation, and portion process; and provides screening and separating equipment for various industries, including plastics, food and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers, minerals, energy, wastewater treatment, forest products, and other general industrials.