MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (NYSE:MSM) Shares Purchased by Boston Partners

Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (NYSE:MSM) by 22.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,762,248 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 327,833 shares during the period. Boston Partners owned 3.16% of MSC Industrial Direct worth $136,867,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Investment Management Corp VA ADV grew its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 207.8% in the 1st quarter. Investment Management Corp VA ADV now owns 397 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new stake in MSC Industrial Direct in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 895.0% in the 1st quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 597 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 537 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 681 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the period. 79.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MSC Industrial Direct Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of NYSE MSM opened at $88.82 on Thursday. MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. has a 52-week low of $68.10 and a 52-week high of $92.68. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $85.84 and a 200-day moving average of $81.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.95 billion, a PE ratio of 25.09 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 1st. The industrial products company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.05. MSC Industrial Direct had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 14.99%. The company had revenue of $971.15 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $969.72 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.33 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. will post 3.57 EPS for the current year.

MSC Industrial Direct Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were paid a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. MSC Industrial Direct’s payout ratio is currently 96.05%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Kimberly Shacklett sold 2,130 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.00, for a total transaction of $195,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 14,657 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,348,444. The trade was a 12.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 18.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $84.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of MSC Industrial Direct from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $73.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Industrial Alliance Securities set a $89.00 target price on shares of MSC Industrial Direct in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Loop Capital lifted their target price on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $74.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $90.33.

About MSC Industrial Direct

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.