Fairfield Financial Advisors LTD Significantly Expands Holdings in General Electric

Fairfield Financial Advisors LTD has made a noteworthy investment in General Electric (NYSE:GE) by increasing its stock holdings by an impressive 888.4% during the fourth quarter, as reported in their latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After acquiring an additional 4,664 shares, the institutional investor now owns a total of 5,189 shares of the conglomerate's stock. At the conclusion of the quarter, Fairfield Financial Advisors LTD's holdings were valued at approximately $865,000.

In addition to Fairfield, several other hedge funds have also altered their positions in General Electric. For example, Valley Wealth Managers Inc. started a new position in the company in the third quarter, with an investment worth $25,000. Meanwhile, Hager Investment Management Services LLC also entered the field in the fourth quarter with a stake valued at $27,000. Other notable investments during the third and fourth quarters included purchases by Peterson Financial Group Inc. and Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC, indicating a growing interest in General Electric among institutional investors. Overall, hedge funds and other institutional investors hold around 74.77% of General Electric's stock.

General Electric Stock Overview

As of the most recent trading session, General Electric shares opened at $194.08. The company boasts a market capitalization of $208.31 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.40 and a P/E growth (P/E/G) ratio of 2.59. Over the past year, General Electric's stock has seen a low of $130.38 and a high of $212.19. The company’s balance sheet reveals a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88 and liquidity ratios with a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Its 50-day simple moving average stands at $193.02, while the 200-day moving average is $183.02.

Recent Earnings and Dividend Announcement

General Electric announced its quarterly earnings results on January 23rd, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32. This figure exceeded analysts' consensus estimate of $1.05, marking a positive performance for the company. General Electric reported a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 14.31%. Looking ahead, financial analysts are predicting an EPS of 5.4 for the current year.

Furthermore, the company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share, set to be paid on April 25th to investors on record as of March 10th. This dividend is an increase from the previous amount of $0.28, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.44 and a yield of 0.74%. General Electric's payout ratio is currently at 24.04%, indicating a prudent distribution of profits back to shareholders.

Analyst Recommendations

In recent evaluations, several analysts have shared their perspectives on General Electric. Notably, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $210.00 and assigned it an "overweight" rating. UBS Group also increased their target to $235.00, maintaining a "buy" rating. Meanwhile, Northcoast Research began coverage with a "neutral" rating, while Deutsche Bank adjusted their price target down to $228.00 but retained a "buy" stance. Overall, current ratings show that two analysts have recommended holding the stock, while fifteen have issued buy ratings, leading to an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a price target of $211.31.

About General Electric

General Electric Company, under its brand GE Aerospace, is known for designing and producing commercial and defense aircraft engines, integrated engine components, and electric power systems. The company also provides aftermarket services to support its products across various global markets, including the United States, Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.

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