Range Financial Group LLC Buys 3,153 Shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Range Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) by 66.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,912 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,153 shares during the period. Apple comprises approximately 0.9% of Range Financial Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Range Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Apple were worth $1,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. One Wealth Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,452,000. Strathmore Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Apple in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,221,000. Birch Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Apple by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Birch Capital Management LLC now owns 72,390 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $18,128,000 after buying an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Apple during the fourth quarter worth $6,832,000. Finally, Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Apple by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 111,858 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $28,012,000 after buying an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.73% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Jeffrey E. Williams sold 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.97, for a total transaction of $24,997,000.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 389,944 shares in the company, valued at $97,474,301.68. This trade represents a 20.41 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.06% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Apple Price Performance

Shares of AAPL opened at $244.47 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $240.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.94. The company has a market capitalization of $3.67 trillion, a P/E ratio of 38.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.92. Apple Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $164.07 and a fifty-two week high of $260.10.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.36 by $0.04. Apple had a return on equity of 160.83% and a net margin of 24.30%. Research analysts predict that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Apple Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. Apple’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.87%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AAPL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays upped their target price on Apple from $183.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. KeyCorp restated an “underweight” rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, January 31st. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and set a $262.00 target price on shares of Apple in a report on Monday, January 27th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Apple in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Apple from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $242.52.

Apple Company Profile

Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; Mac, a line of personal computers; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and wearables, home, and accessories comprising AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, and HomePod.