Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST) Shares Down 5.4% – Here’s Why

Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST)’s share price fell 5.4% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $26.02 and last traded at $25.98. 138,639 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 1,637,058 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.46.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of Sensata Technologies from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Sensata Technologies from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Sensata Technologies from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Sensata Technologies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $39.08.

Sensata Technologies Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $3.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.20. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $27.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 2.85 and a quick ratio of 1.99.

Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.76. Sensata Technologies had a return on equity of 17.54% and a net margin of 3.27%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Sensata Technologies Holding plc will post 3.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sensata Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were given a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 12th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.94%. Sensata Technologies’s payout ratio is presently 57.14%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wealthedge Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Sensata Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $1,384,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in Sensata Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,075,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Sensata Technologies by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,217,602 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $33,362,000 after buying an additional 17,575 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sensata Technologies by 17.0% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 450,912 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $12,355,000 after acquiring an additional 65,607 shares during the period. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sensata Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $11,284,000. 99.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Sensata Technologies

Sensata Technologies Holding plc develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and sensor-rich solutions, electrical protection components and systems, and other products used in mission-critical systems and applications in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Performance Sensing and Sensing Solutions.