KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Makes New Investment in Ford Motor (NYSE:F)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor (NYSE:F) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,308,313 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $12,952,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Ford Motor by 29.8% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,464,980 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $15,998,000 after acquiring an additional 336,720 shares during the period. NCP Inc. grew its position in shares of Ford Motor by 62.0% during the 4th quarter. NCP Inc. now owns 74,520 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $738,000 after acquiring an additional 28,528 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Ford Motor by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,394,681 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $46,408,000 after acquiring an additional 160,409 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 3rd quarter valued at about $55,456,000. Finally, Alberta Investment Management Corp grew its position in shares of Ford Motor by 87.1% during the 4th quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 196,100 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $1,941,000 after acquiring an additional 91,300 shares during the period. 58.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on F. Jefferies Financial Group cut Ford Motor from a “hold” rating to an “underperform” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $12.00 to $9.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Ford Motor from $13.00 to $9.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Ford Motor from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Wolfe Research reiterated an “underperform” rating on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $11.50.

Ford Motor Trading Up 0.3 %

F opened at $10.05 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $9.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.29. Ford Motor has a 1-year low of $9.06 and a 1-year high of $14.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.59.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.04. Ford Motor had a net margin of 3.18% and a return on equity of 16.88%. Analysts expect that Ford Motor will post 1.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. Ford Motor’s payout ratio is presently 41.10%.

About Ford Motor

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.