Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Trading Down 0.2%

Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL) shares were down 0.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $166.71 and last traded at $167.23. Approximately 2,274,374 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily volume of 8,586,053 shares. The stock had previously closed at $167.59.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Argus lifted their target price on Oracle from $145.00 to $159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Oracle from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Melius upgraded Oracle from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $210.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Oracle from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Oracle from $150.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $163.88.

Oracle Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.68. The company’s 50-day moving average is $141.83 and its 200-day moving average is $131.44. The firm has a market cap of $464.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.01.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, September 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.06. Oracle had a net margin of 20.40% and a return on equity of 171.38%. The business had revenue of $13.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $13.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.95 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Oracle Co. will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 10th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 10th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.95%. Oracle’s payout ratio is 43.13%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Maria Smith sold 6,320 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total value of $1,042,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 42,889 shares in the company, valued at $7,076,685. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Maria Smith sold 6,320 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total value of $1,042,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,889 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,076,685. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Leon E. Panetta sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.89, for a total value of $2,068,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 58,090 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,010,030.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,610,402 shares of company stock worth $230,556,257 over the last ninety days. 42.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oracle

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. acquired a new position in Oracle during the second quarter valued at $1,045,000. Verity & Verity LLC increased its position in shares of Oracle by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Verity & Verity LLC now owns 2,241 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Oracle by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,927 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock worth $272,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Oracle during the second quarter worth $2,141,000. Finally, Lazari Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Oracle by 10.3% in the 2nd quarter. Lazari Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,867 shares of the enterprise software provider’s stock valued at $546,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 42.44% of the company’s stock.

About Oracle

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.