Dean Capital Management Has $4.18 Million Position in Astec Industries, Inc. $ASTE

Dean Capital Management increased its stake in shares of Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTE) by 33.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 86,913 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 21,623 shares during the quarter. Astec Industries comprises about 1.6% of Dean Capital Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Dean Capital Management owned 0.38% of Astec Industries worth $4,183,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. iSAM Funds UK Ltd bought a new position in Astec Industries in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $50,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in Astec Industries by 412.0% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,212 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $92,000 after buying an additional 1,780 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Astec Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $136,000. AlphaQuest LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Astec Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $194,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Astec Industries during the third quarter worth $203,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.16% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Astec Industries

In related news, insider Edward Terrell Gilbert, Jr. sold 975 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.07, for a total transaction of $59,543.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $539,125.96. The trade was a 9.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.69% of the company’s stock.

Astec Industries Trading Down 1.5%

NASDAQ ASTE opened at $52.88 on Monday. Astec Industries, Inc. has a 12 month low of $29.65 and a 12 month high of $64.37. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.82. The company has a current ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a PE ratio of 31.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.38.

Astec Industries (NASDAQ:ASTE) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The industrial products company reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.32. The firm had revenue of $400.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $374.21 million. Astec Industries had a return on equity of 11.35% and a net margin of 2.75%.

Astec Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. Astec Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on ASTE. Zacks Research upgraded Astec Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Astec Industries in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Astec Industries from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy”.

Astec Industries Company Profile

Astec Industries, Inc is a designer and manufacturer of specialized equipment for infrastructure-related markets. Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the company develops, engineers and produces machinery for asphalt road-building, aggregate processing, concrete production, underground mining, landscaping and utility installation. Astec’s product portfolio includes asphalt plants, portable crushers, conveyors, screening plants, mixers, continuous miners and related support equipment.

Organized into multiple operating segments—Roadbuilding; Aggregate & Mining; Energy; and Pavement Preservation & Maintenance—Astec Industries serves contractors and municipalities that build and maintain transportation, energy and utility networks.