Headlands Technologies LLC Invests $316,000 in Allegion plc (NYSE:ALLE)

Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Allegion plc (NYSE:ALLE) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 2,417 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $316,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Allegion in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Atala Financial Inc acquired a new stake in Allegion during the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Private Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in Allegion by 56.1% in the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 320 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Allegion by 78.0% in the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 388 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Allegion by 33.6% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 402 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.21% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Nickolas A. Musial sold 403 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.70, for a total value of $50,254.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,972 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $620,008.40. This represents a 7.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Gregg C. Sengstack purchased 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $125.24 per share, for a total transaction of $1,001,920.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 8,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,001,920. This trade represents a ? increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 3,224 shares of company stock worth $406,636 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Allegion Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ALLE opened at $123.53 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.11, a PEG ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 2.04. Allegion plc has a fifty-two week low of $113.27 and a fifty-two week high of $156.10. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $129.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $135.89.

Allegion (NYSE:ALLE) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.11. Allegion had a return on equity of 45.12% and a net margin of 15.84%. The company had revenue of $945.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $938.91 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Allegion plc will post 7.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Allegion Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.51 dividend. This is a positive change from Allegion’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. Allegion’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ALLE has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Allegion from $130.00 to $126.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Allegion from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Allegion from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Allegion from $152.00 to $144.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Allegion from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $137.67.

About Allegion

Allegion plc manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic security products and solutions worldwide. The company offers door controls and systems and exit devices; locks, locksets, portable locks, and key systems and services; electronic security products and access control systems; time, attendance, and workforce productivity systems; doors, accessories, and other.