Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:BHE) Shares Sold by Rhumbline Advisers

Rhumbline Advisers lowered its stake in shares of Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:BHE) by 4.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 106,636 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 4,395 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned about 0.30% of Benchmark Electronics worth $4,841,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. KBC Group NV raised its position in Benchmark Electronics by 125.3% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,534 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $68,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Benchmark Electronics by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,547 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Glenmede Trust Co. NA purchased a new position in shares of Benchmark Electronics during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $238,000. Highland Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Benchmark Electronics by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 5,620 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $255,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the period. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP grew its position in Benchmark Electronics by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 6,162 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $280,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.29% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently issued reports on BHE. StockNews.com raised shares of Benchmark Electronics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on Benchmark Electronics from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $43.00.

Insider Transactions at Benchmark Electronics

In other news, CEO Jeff Benck sold 6,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.31, for a total value of $271,860.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 418,173 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,947,418.63. This trade represents a 1.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 2.10% of the company’s stock.

Benchmark Electronics Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BHE opened at $39.54 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 2.32. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $44.46 and a 200 day moving average of $44.72. The firm has a market cap of $1.42 billion, a PE ratio of 22.86 and a beta of 0.99. Benchmark Electronics, Inc. has a one year low of $27.44 and a one year high of $52.57.

Benchmark Electronics (NYSE:BHE) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The technology company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.01). Benchmark Electronics had a return on equity of 6.68% and a net margin of 2.38%.

Benchmark Electronics Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.72%. Benchmark Electronics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.31%.

About Benchmark Electronics

Benchmark Electronics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers product design, engineering services, technology solutions, and manufacturing services in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company provides engineering services and technology solutions, including new product design, prototype, testing, and related engineering services; and custom testing and technology solutions, as well as automation equipment design and build services.