Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Trims Stake in MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lowered its stake in MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM) by 4.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 924,328 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 41,205 shares during the quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned approximately 1.65% of MSC Industrial Direct worth $73,308,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 1,142.3% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 323 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Quest Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 35,300.0% during the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 354 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the period. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 261.7% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 387 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.26% of the company’s stock.

MSC Industrial Direct Stock Down 2.7 %

Shares of NYSE MSM opened at $83.86 on Friday. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.05 and a 12-month high of $105.77. The company has a market cap of $4.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.28 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $82.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $86.74.

MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 2nd. The industrial products company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.33. MSC Industrial Direct had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 7.44%. The firm had revenue of $979.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $979.10 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.74 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 4.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSC Industrial Direct Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 9th were given a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.96%. MSC Industrial Direct’s payout ratio is currently 64.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MSM shares. KeyCorp lowered MSC Industrial Direct from an “overweight” rating to a “sector weight” rating in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $110.00 price objective on shares of MSC Industrial Direct in a report on Friday, June 14th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on MSC Industrial Direct from $95.00 to $84.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on MSC Industrial Direct from $81.00 to $80.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded MSC Industrial Direct from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, June 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MSC Industrial Direct currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $90.20.

Insider Buying and Selling at MSC Industrial Direct

In other MSC Industrial Direct news, SVP Kimberly Shacklett sold 4,885 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.60, for a total value of $413,271.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,897 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,091,086.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 18.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

MSC Industrial Direct Profile

MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.