Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Cuts Stock Holdings in IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System cut its stake in shares of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) by 4.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,400 shares of the company’s stock after selling 500 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in IDEXX Laboratories were worth $4,300,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in IDXX. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in IDEXX Laboratories by 1.8% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,259,537 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,138,732,000 after acquiring an additional 40,349 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of IDEXX Laboratories by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,412,700 shares of the company’s stock worth $675,259,000 after purchasing an additional 34,305 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in shares of IDEXX Laboratories by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 751,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $379,875,000 after purchasing an additional 2,463 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in IDEXX Laboratories by 52,746.0% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 528,460 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,669,890,000 after purchasing an additional 527,460 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in IDEXX Laboratories by 265.6% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 435,049 shares of the company’s stock valued at $179,867,000 after buying an additional 316,048 shares during the period. 87.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP George Fennell sold 9,986 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $462.53, for a total value of $4,618,824.58. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 8,176 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,781,645.28. The trade was a 54.98 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Sophie V. Vandebroek sold 344 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $420.44, for a total transaction of $144,631.36. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 905 shares in the company, valued at approximately $380,498.20. This trade represents a 27.54 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 13,330 shares of company stock worth $6,161,276. Insiders own 2.11% of the company’s stock.

IDEXX Laboratories Price Performance

IDXX stock opened at $457.35 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $429.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $453.23. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. has a 52-week low of $398.50 and a 52-week high of $583.39. The company has a market capitalization of $37.45 billion, a PE ratio of 42.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently issued reports on IDXX. StockNews.com lowered shares of IDEXX Laboratories from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of IDEXX Laboratories from $475.00 to $535.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays raised their price objective on IDEXX Laboratories from $481.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Leerink Partnrs raised IDEXX Laboratories to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on IDEXX Laboratories from $559.00 to $550.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $533.75.

About IDEXX Laboratories

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc develops, manufactures, and distributes products primarily for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, dairy, and water testing markets in Africa, the Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Companion Animal Group; Water Quality Products; and Livestock, Poultry and Dairy.