Laurus Global Equity Management Inc. Takes Position in CSW Industrials, Inc. $CSW

Laurus Global Equity Management Inc. purchased a new stake in CSW Industrials, Inc. (NYSE:CSW) in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm purchased 3,980 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,168,000. CSW Industrials accounts for approximately 1.0% of Laurus Global Equity Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CSW. CWM LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CSW Industrials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new stake in CSW Industrials during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in shares of CSW Industrials during the fourth quarter worth $50,000. Blue Trust Inc. bought a new position in shares of CSW Industrials during the fourth quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. bought a new position in shares of CSW Industrials during the fourth quarter worth $64,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.79% of the company’s stock.

CSW Industrials Stock Performance

Shares of CSW stock traded up $6.88 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $297.52. 10,013 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 154,739. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.43 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 2.36. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $279.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $280.23. CSW Industrials, Inc. has a 52 week low of $230.45 and a 52 week high of $338.90.

CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.42 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.51). The company had revenue of $232.99 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $249.36 million. CSW Industrials had a return on equity of 14.55% and a net margin of 12.64%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that CSW Industrials, Inc. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current year.

CSW Industrials Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 24th will be given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 24th. This is a boost from CSW Industrials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. CSW Industrials’s dividend payout ratio is presently 15.92%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Darron K. Ash acquired 300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $256.62 per share, for a total transaction of $76,986.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 1,155 shares in the company, valued at $296,396.10. This trade represents a 35.09% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Don Sullivan sold 166 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.26, for a total transaction of $49,843.16. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 21,567 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,475,707.42. This represents a 0.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 3,173 shares of company stock valued at $905,981 over the last quarter. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on CSW shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of CSW Industrials from $302.00 to $333.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of CSW Industrials in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research lowered shares of CSW Industrials from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of CSW Industrials in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $378.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of CSW Industrials from $300.00 to $280.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $328.43.

CSW Industrials Profile

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.