OLD Second National Bank of Aurora Trims Holdings in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK)

OLD Second National Bank of Aurora trimmed its stake in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,592 shares of the medical technology company’s stock after selling 122 shares during the period. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora’s holdings in Stryker were worth $2,734,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Advisory Alpha LLC increased its stake in Stryker by 20.4% during the 2nd quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 2,304 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $784,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Stryker by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 89,948 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $30,605,000 after buying an additional 2,220 shares during the period. New Century Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Stryker by 29.5% during the 2nd quarter. New Century Financial Group LLC now owns 798 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. Centennial Bank AR increased its stake in Stryker by 106.7% during the 2nd quarter. Centennial Bank AR now owns 93 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Clear Rock Advisors LLC increased its stake in Stryker by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Clear Rock Advisors LLC now owns 10,426 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $3,547,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the period. 77.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Stryker Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:SYK opened at $390.98 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $149.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $376.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $361.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.22. Stryker Co. has a 1-year low of $314.05 and a 1-year high of $406.19.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The medical technology company reported $4.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.87 by $0.14. Stryker had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 23.07%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.46 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Stryker Co. will post 12.06 EPS for the current year.

Stryker Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. This is an increase from Stryker’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. Stryker’s dividend payout ratio is presently 36.01%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on SYK shares. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Stryker in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Stryker from $380.00 to $384.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $420.00 price target (up previously from $380.00) on shares of Stryker in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Stryker from $427.00 to $435.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Stryker from $420.00 to $445.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $413.45.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Kevin Lobo sold 57,313 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $368.70, for a total value of $21,131,303.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 100,027 shares in the company, valued at $36,879,954.90. This trade represents a 36.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 5.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Stryker Profile

Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries.