GATX (NYSE:GATX) Reaches New 12-Month High After Strong Earnings

GATX Co. (NYSE:GATX) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $167.83 and last traded at $167.66, with a volume of 216047 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $161.43.

The transportation company reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.25. GATX had a net margin of 17.76% and a return on equity of 11.98%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.74 EPS.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna boosted their price target on GATX from $122.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Sidoti lowered GATX from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $158.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of GATX in a report on Monday, November 18th. They set a “buy” rating and a $185.00 price target on the stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GATX

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GATX. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in GATX by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 10,692 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,418,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in GATX by 91.8% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 163 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of GATX by 20.2% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 487 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the period. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC lifted its position in shares of GATX by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC now owns 3,907 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $605,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of GATX by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,846 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $385,000 after acquiring an additional 158 shares during the period. 93.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

GATX Stock Up 3.9 %

The company has a market capitalization of $5.95 billion, a PE ratio of 22.41 and a beta of 0.99. The company’s fifty day moving average is $157.80 and its 200-day moving average is $145.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.41, a quick ratio of 3.41 and a current ratio of 3.41.

About GATX

GATX Corporation, together its subsidiaries, operates as railcar leasing company in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and India. It operates through three segments: Rail North America, Rail International, and Portfolio Management. The company leases tank and freight railcars, and locomotives for petroleum, chemical, food/agriculture, and transportation industries.