Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO) Shares Purchased by Empowered Funds LLC

Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO) by 28.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,272 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,747 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Exponent were worth $1,093,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXPO. Creative Planning boosted its position in Exponent by 24.9% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 21,320 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,458,000 after acquiring an additional 4,250 shares during the last quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group acquired a new position in shares of Exponent during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $406,000. Raymond James & Associates grew its position in shares of Exponent by 4.2% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 507,562 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $58,512,000 after purchasing an additional 20,527 shares in the last quarter. Compass Ion Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exponent in the third quarter valued at approximately $219,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its position in Exponent by 74.7% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 903 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 386 shares in the last quarter. 92.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Paul R. Johnston sold 1,300 shares of Exponent stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.03, for a total value of $123,539.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 59,406 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,645,352.18. This trade represents a 2.14 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 2.10% of the company’s stock.

Exponent Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of EXPO opened at $88.66 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $91.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.11. The company has a market capitalization of $4.50 billion, a PE ratio of 41.82 and a beta of 0.71. Exponent, Inc. has a 52-week low of $75.39 and a 52-week high of $115.75.

Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The business services provider reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.06. Exponent had a net margin of 19.52% and a return on equity of 27.76%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.41 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Exponent, Inc. will post 2.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exponent Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. This is an increase from Exponent’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Exponent’s payout ratio is currently 52.83%.

About Exponent

Exponent, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a science and engineering consulting company in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Engineering and Other Scientific, and Environmental and Health. The Engineering and Other Scientific segment provides services in the areas of biomechanics, biomedical engineering and sciences, buildings and structures, civil engineering, construction consulting, data sciences, electrical engineering and computer science, human factors, materials and corrosion engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer science and materials chemistry, thermal sciences, and vehicle engineering.