Franklin Resources Inc. Raises Position in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI)

Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) by 11.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 202,323 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 21,300 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $93,520,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Center for Financial Planning Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Motorola Solutions by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 5,055 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,337,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 235 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 22.5% in the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 136 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. grew its stake in shares of Motorola Solutions by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 1,289 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock worth $596,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Motorola Solutions by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,664 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $769,000 after buying an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. 84.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Motorola Solutions Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Motorola Solutions stock opened at $437.48 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.30, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.28. The company has a market capitalization of $73.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.45, a PEG ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 1.03. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1 year low of $332.98 and a 1 year high of $507.82. The company’s fifty day moving average is $441.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $459.41.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.85 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $3.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 14.58% and a return on equity of 197.59%. Analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.09 per share. This represents a $4.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Motorola Solutions’s dividend payout ratio is presently 47.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MSI has been the subject of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Motorola Solutions from $495.00 to $505.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. StockNews.com raised shares of Motorola Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $529.00 to $527.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $505.88.

Motorola Solutions Profile

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.