Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTE) Shares Sold by Skylands Capital LLC

Skylands Capital LLC decreased its position in Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTE) by 28.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,800 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 5,865 shares during the period. Skylands Capital LLC’s holdings in Astec Industries were worth $497,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Tompkins Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Astec Industries during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Astec Industries in the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Astec Industries in the third quarter worth approximately $45,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Astec Industries during the third quarter worth approximately $49,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in Astec Industries by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 12,602 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $423,000 after purchasing an additional 1,577 shares during the last quarter. 93.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Astec Industries Stock Down 1.9 %

ASTE stock opened at $30.40 on Tuesday. Astec Industries, Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.46 and a 1 year high of $44.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 2.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $33.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.65.

Astec Industries Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. Astec Industries’s payout ratio is currently -649.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on ASTE. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Astec Industries from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Astec Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th.

About Astec Industries

Astec Industries, Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets equipment and components used primarily in road building and related construction activities worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Infrastructure Solutions and Materials Solutions. The Infrastructure Solutions segment offers asphalt plants and related components, heaters, concrete dust control systems, asphalt pavers, vaporizers, concrete material handling systems, screeds, heat recovery units, paste back-fill plants, asphalt storage tanks, hot oil heaters, bagging plants, fuel storage tanks, industrial and asphalt burners and systems, custom batch plants, material transfer vehicles, soil stabilizing-reclaiming machinery, blower trucks and trailers, milling machines, soil remediation plants, wood chippers and grinders, pump trailers, concrete batch plants, control systems, liquid terminals, storage equipment and related parts, construction and retrofits, polymer plants, and concrete mixers, as well as engineering and environmental permitting services.