Metis Global Partners LLC Decreases Stake in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX)

Metis Global Partners LLC lowered its stake in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) by 8.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 50,717 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock after selling 4,823 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $4,758,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of TJX. Valley Brook Capital Group Inc. boosted its position in TJX Companies by 18.8% during the 4th quarter. Valley Brook Capital Group Inc. now owns 5,465 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock valued at $513,000 after purchasing an additional 865 shares during the period. W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc. lifted its position in TJX Companies by 34.3% in the 4th quarter. W.H. Cornerstone Investments Inc. now owns 3,537 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock valued at $332,000 after purchasing an additional 904 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC increased its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 42.5% in the fourth quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 23,045 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock valued at $2,162,000 after purchasing an additional 6,878 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 18,017 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailer’s stock worth $1,690,000 after purchasing an additional 956 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TCG Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $317,000. Institutional investors own 91.09% of the company’s stock.

TJX Companies Stock Up 2.5 %

Shares of TJX traded up $2.34 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $97.45. 6,048,231 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,093,906. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.65 and a twelve month high of $102.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $96.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $94.11. The stock has a market cap of $110.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.87.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $16.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.20 billion. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 64.18% and a net margin of 8.25%. The business’s revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.89 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.07 earnings per share for the current year.

TJX Companies declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, February 28th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the apparel and home fashions retailer to reacquire up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

TJX Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.375 per share. This is an increase from TJX Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 15th. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.54%. TJX Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.46%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Louise Greenlees sold 2,694 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.83, for a total value of $266,248.02. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 50,273 shares in the company, valued at $4,968,480.59. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Louise Greenlees sold 2,694 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.83, for a total transaction of $266,248.02. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 50,273 shares in the company, valued at $4,968,480.59. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.98, for a total value of $1,979,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 515,801 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $51,053,982.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded TJX Companies from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $100.00 to $110.00 in a report on Thursday, April 25th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $95.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $105.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Redburn Atlantic lowered TJX Companies from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $100.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded TJX Companies from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $104.00 to $132.00 in a research report on Thursday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $104.29.

TJX Companies Profile

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.