Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Monday.

LMT has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $565.00 to $515.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $570.00 to $550.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Melius downgraded Lockheed Martin from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Lockheed Martin from $555.00 to $525.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $544.20.

Lockheed Martin Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE LMT opened at $444.88 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $104.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10. Lockheed Martin has a 12-month low of $419.70 and a 12-month high of $618.95. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $458.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $512.16.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $7.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.58 by $1.09. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 101.47% and a net margin of 7.51%. On average, analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $3.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $13.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.97%. Lockheed Martin’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Harry Edward Paul III sold 707 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $442.61, for a total transaction of $312,925.27. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 2,278 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,008,265.58. This represents a 23.69 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. sold 3,213 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $442.42, for a total transaction of $1,421,495.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at $884,840. This trade represents a 61.63 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 7,133 shares of company stock worth $3,155,916. Insiders own 0.17% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lockheed Martin

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. M1 Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 4th quarter worth $235,000. DSG Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lockheed Martin during the fourth quarter worth about $235,000. Chancellor Financial Group WB LP purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin during the fourth quarter worth about $209,000. 111 Capital purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin during the fourth quarter worth about $1,155,000. Finally, Thoma Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 4th quarter valued at about $524,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the company’s stock.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.