CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW) Upgraded to Strong-Buy at Zacks Research

Zacks Research upgraded shares of CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Citigroup lifted their price target on CSW Industrials from $259.00 to $311.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $350.00 price target on shares of CSW Industrials in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of CSW Industrials from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the company from $300.00 to $350.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on CSW Industrials from $265.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of CSW Industrials from $265.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, CSW Industrials has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $314.83.

CSW Industrials Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:CSW opened at $302.53 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $273.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $271.63. The company has a market cap of $5.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.51 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 1.32. CSW Industrials has a one year low of $230.45 and a one year high of $401.02.

CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.73 by $0.23. CSW Industrials had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 14.88%. Analysts anticipate that CSW Industrials will post 8.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CSW Industrials Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 31st were given a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 31st. CSW Industrials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.68%.

Insider Activity at CSW Industrials

In other news, CEO Joseph B. Armes sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $317.40, for a total value of $317,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 64,493 shares in the company, valued at $20,470,078.20. This trade represents a 1.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Don Sullivan sold 4,136 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $301.41, for a total value of $1,246,631.76. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 18,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,484,456.36. The trade was a 18.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 8,366 shares of company stock valued at $2,403,173 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of CSW Industrials by 7.7% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 53,371 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $15,558,000 after purchasing an additional 3,835 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of CSW Industrials by 22.9% in the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 9,537 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,780,000 after buying an additional 1,774 shares during the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC increased its position in CSW Industrials by 37.1% during the 1st quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 11,662 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,400,000 after buying an additional 3,157 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in CSW Industrials during the first quarter valued at $1,312,000. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC boosted its holdings in CSW Industrials by 5.3% in the first quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 59,857 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $17,450,000 after acquiring an additional 3,006 shares in the last quarter. 82.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About CSW Industrials

CSW Industrials, Inc is a diversified industrial manufacturer that develops and supplies specialty chemical products, performance materials and precision surface solutions. The company’s offerings span a range of end markets including energy, industrial processing, converting and automotive, where its products serve critical functions in production efficiency, equipment maintenance and process enhancement.

In its chemical business, CSW Industrials produces solvent- and water-based formulations such as surfactants, corrosion inhibitors and custom blends used in oilfield exploration and production, metalworking, water treatment and other industrial applications.