Prudential Financial Inc. Increases Holdings in Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC)

Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC) by 30.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 243,774 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 57,115 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.50% of Edgewell Personal Care worth $8,191,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Edgewell Personal Care in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Edgewell Personal Care by 217.4% during the fourth quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 1,168 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its position in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 56.5% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,279 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 823 shares in the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 33.1% in the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 2,788 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 693 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 18.7% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,200 shares of the company’s stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 503 shares during the last quarter. 91.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Edgewell Personal Care Stock Performance

Shares of EPC stock opened at $30.68 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company has a market cap of $1.48 billion, a PE ratio of 16.77 and a beta of 1.04. Edgewell Personal Care Co has a 12-month low of $26.65 and a 12-month high of $41.50. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $31.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.76.

Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.13 by ($0.06). Edgewell Personal Care had a net margin of 4.09% and a return on equity of 9.29%. Analysts expect that Edgewell Personal Care Co will post 3.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Edgewell Personal Care Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. Edgewell Personal Care’s payout ratio is currently 32.79%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EPC has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $33.00 to $30.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Edgewell Personal Care from $48.00 to $43.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $35.00 to $32.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price objective on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $53.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Edgewell Personal Care currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $36.57.

About Edgewell Personal Care

Edgewell Personal Care Company is a manufacturer and marketer of personal care products in the wet shave, sun and skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had a portfolio of over 25 brands. It manages its business in four segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, Feminine Care and All Other.