Analysts Set MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (NYSE:MSM) PT at $91.50

MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (NYSE:MSM) has earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, one has assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $91.50.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of MSC Industrial Direct from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, November 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on MSC Industrial Direct from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of MSC Industrial Direct in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Wolfe Research downgraded MSC Industrial Direct from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded MSC Industrial Direct from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Philip Peller acquired 6,666 shares of MSC Industrial Direct stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $90.14 per share, with a total value of $600,873.24. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 9,537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $859,665.18. This represents a 232.18% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Mitchell Jacobson bought 22,870 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $84.96 per share, with a total value of $1,943,035.20. Following the purchase, the director owned 2,328,192 shares in the company, valued at $197,803,192.32. The trade was a 0.99% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 211,342 shares of company stock valued at $17,951,965. Company insiders own 18.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of MSC Industrial Direct

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Investment Management Corp VA ADV grew its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 207.8% in the first quarter. Investment Management Corp VA ADV now owns 397 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in MSC Industrial Direct during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in MSC Industrial Direct during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its position in MSC Industrial Direct by 257.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 361 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.26% of the company’s stock.

MSC Industrial Direct Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE MSM opened at $89.44 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The business has a 50-day moving average of $87.93 and a 200-day moving average of $86.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.12 and a beta of 0.98. MSC Industrial Direct has a 12 month low of $68.10 and a 12 month high of $94.31.

MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.06. MSC Industrial Direct had a net margin of 5.29% and a return on equity of 15.21%. The business had revenue of $978.18 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $964.03 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. MSC Industrial Direct’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that MSC Industrial Direct will post 3.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSC Industrial Direct Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This is a boost from MSC Industrial Direct’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 12th. MSC Industrial Direct’s payout ratio is presently 97.75%.

MSC Industrial Direct Company 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.