MUFG Securities EMEA plc Buys 231,481 Shares of General Dynamics Corporation $GD

MUFG Securities EMEA plc grew its stake in General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) by 4,789.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 236,314 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after purchasing an additional 231,481 shares during the quarter. General Dynamics comprises about 0.9% of MUFG Securities EMEA plc’s holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. MUFG Securities EMEA plc’s holdings in General Dynamics were worth $79,557,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in GD. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 620.0% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 72 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Dagco Inc. bought a new position in shares of General Dynamics in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Burkett Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 650.0% in the 3rd quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 75 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steph & Co. increased its stake in shares of General Dynamics by 65.2% in the 4th quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 76 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. 86.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at General Dynamics

In other news, EVP Mark Lagrand Burns sold 36,480 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.29, for a total transaction of $12,596,179.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 38,975 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,457,677.75. This trade represents a 48.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 3,819 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.50, for a total transaction of $1,350,016.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 44,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,825,134.50. The trade was a 7.86% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 119,600 shares of company stock valued at $41,650,580. 1.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $385.00 price target on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $400.00 price target for the company. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $385.00 to $371.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of General Dynamics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $385.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $387.40.

General Dynamics Stock Performance

Shares of GD stock opened at $346.47 on Friday. General Dynamics Corporation has a one year low of $268.10 and a one year high of $369.70. The company’s 50-day moving average is $340.85 and its 200 day moving average is $346.56. The company has a market capitalization of $93.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.38.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 29th. The aerospace company reported $4.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.67 by $0.43. General Dynamics had a net margin of 8.07% and a return on equity of 17.41%. The company had revenue of $13.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.66 EPS. General Dynamics’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that General Dynamics Corporation will post 16.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Dynamics Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th were given a dividend of $1.59 per share. This is a positive change from General Dynamics’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 10th. This represents a $6.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. General Dynamics’s payout ratio is currently 40.03%.

About General Dynamics

General Dynamics is a major American aerospace and defense contractor that designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of products and services for government and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in the United States (Reston, Virginia), the company supplies platforms and systems used by armed forces, civil authorities and private operators across multiple domains including air, land, sea and cyber.

Its principal activities span several operating businesses: a business aviation unit that develops and supports Gulfstream business jets; land systems that produce armored combat vehicles and related logistics and sustainment services; marine systems that design and construct submarines and surface ships for navies; and mission systems and information technology operations that provide command-and-control, communications, cybersecurity and systems-integration services.