Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEI) Trading Up 14.5% on Analyst Upgrade

Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:MEIGet Free Report)’s stock price shot up 14.5% during trading on Wednesday after Zacks Research upgraded the stock from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. The stock traded as high as $16.75 and last traded at $17.2930. 345,156 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 48% from the average daily volume of 667,151 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.10.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Barrington Research upgraded Methode Electronics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $25.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, June 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered Methode Electronics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, August 2nd. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Methode Electronics from $8.50 to $16.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Methode Electronics in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Sidoti restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $17.00 price target on shares of Methode Electronics in a research note on Friday, June 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $19.33.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Methode Electronics

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Methode Electronics by 1,027.4% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,089 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 2,815 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Methode Electronics in the second quarter worth $107,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in Methode Electronics in the second quarter worth $226,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new stake in Methode Electronics during the third quarter valued at $103,000. Finally, Inscription Capital LLC bought a new stake in Methode Electronics during the fourth quarter valued at $112,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.49% of the company’s stock.

Methode Electronics Stock Up 1.0%

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $14.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.37 and a quick ratio of 1.66. The company has a market capitalization of $590.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.50 and a beta of 1.50.

Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEIGet Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 24th. The electronics maker reported ($0.30) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by ($0.19). Methode Electronics had a negative net margin of 3.50% and a negative return on equity of 5.59%. The business had revenue of $298.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $238.46 million. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Methode Electronics, Inc. will post -0.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Methode Electronics Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 17th were paid a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 17th. Methode Electronics’s payout ratio is presently -19.80%.

About Methode Electronics

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Methode Electronics, Inc is a Chicago-based global manufacturer of custom-engineered electronic and electromechanical components and assemblies. Founded in 1946, Methode specializes in providing solutions that integrate electrical connectors, sensors, switches, human-machine interface devices and power distribution modules. The company’s product portfolio addresses complex application requirements across a broad range of end markets, including automotive, industrial, energy, healthcare and data/telecommunications.

In its automotive segment, Methode develops advanced connector systems, circuit protection devices and thermal management solutions for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Further Reading

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