StockNews.com Begins Coverage on Patterson Companies (NASDAQ:PDCO)

Investment analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Patterson Companies (NASDAQ:PDCO) in a report released on Sunday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the stock.

Patterson Companies Stock Performance

NASDAQ:PDCO opened at $31.33 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.77 billion, a PE ratio of 18.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Patterson Companies has a 12-month low of $19.45 and a 12-month high of $31.79. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $31.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.78.

Institutional Trading of Patterson Companies

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Patterson Companies by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,409,915 shares of the company’s stock valued at $290,390,000 after purchasing an additional 47,897 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Patterson Companies by 24.1% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,711,030 shares of the company’s stock valued at $83,662,000 after buying an additional 527,054 shares in the last quarter. Equity Investment Corp boosted its position in Patterson Companies by 16.6% in the fourth quarter. Equity Investment Corp now owns 2,028,964 shares of the company’s stock valued at $62,614,000 after buying an additional 289,295 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Patterson Companies by 15.8% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,799,942 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,546,000 after buying an additional 245,376 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Patterson Companies by 18.0% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,455,729 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,924,000 after buying an additional 222,005 shares in the last quarter. 85.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Patterson Companies

Patterson Companies, Inc engages in the distribution of dental and animal health products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company operates through three segments: Dental, Animal Health, and Corporate segments. The Dental segment offers consumable products, including infection control, restorative materials, and instruments; basic and advanced technology and dental equipment; practice optimization solutions, such as practice management software, e-commerce, revenue cycle management, patient engagement solutions, and clinical and patient education systems.