StockNews.com Downgrades Crane (NYSE:CR) to Hold

Crane (NYSE:CR) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Saturday.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Crane from $152.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Crane from $176.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, DA Davidson raised their price target on Crane from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $174.80.

Crane Price Performance

Shares of CR opened at $165.23 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.18. Crane has a fifty-two week low of $121.04 and a fifty-two week high of $188.52. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $161.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $161.09. The company has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.25.

Crane (NYSE:CR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.07. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.90 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Crane will post 7.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Crane

In other Crane news, VP Alejandro Alcala sold 2,293 shares of Crane stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.96, for a total transaction of $392,011.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 32,963 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,635,354.48. The trade was a 6.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Crane

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CR. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Crane in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in Crane by 487.8% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 241 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp bought a new position in shares of Crane in the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Crane during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Crane by 69.1% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 372 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Crane

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials.