Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE:QUAD) Stock Now Rated “Moderate Buy” by Sell-Side Analysts

Shares of Quad Graphics, Inc (NYSE:QUAD) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the five brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $12.00.

QUAD has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded Quad Graphics from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Quad Graphics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price target on shares of Quad Graphics from $9.80 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Benchmark increased their price target on shares of Quad Graphics from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th.

Quad Graphics Stock Performance

Shares of Quad Graphics stock opened at $9.32 on Friday. Quad Graphics has a 12 month low of $5.12 and a 12 month high of $11.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $479.86 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 1.12. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $9.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.05.

Quad Graphics (NYSE:QUAD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 28th. The business services provider reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37 by ($0.02). Quad Graphics had a net margin of 1.31% and a return on equity of 47.90%. The business had revenue of $586.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $583.27 million. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Quad Graphics will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Quad Graphics Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 4th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 17th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 17th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Quad Graphics’s payout ratio is 63.49%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quad Graphics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. DGS Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Quad Graphics in the 1st quarter valued at about $71,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quad Graphics during the 1st quarter worth about $119,000. HB Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quad Graphics during the 1st quarter worth about $126,000. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Quad Graphics by 51.7% during the 1st quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 19,878 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $131,000 after purchasing an additional 6,778 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Quad Graphics by 14.2% during the second quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 24,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $211,000 after buying an additional 3,107 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.52% of the company’s stock.

About Quad Graphics

Quad (NYSE: QUAD), formerly Quad/Graphics, is a marketing experience company that helps organizations plan, create, produce and distribute marketing communications. Its services span creative and content development, data and analytics, media planning and buying, marketing management, and production.

The company also provides commercial printing, packaging, direct mail, in-store marketing materials and other physical communications. By combining these capabilities with digital and technology services, Quad supports integrated marketing programs designed to connect brands with consumers across print, digital and other channels.

Quad was founded in 1971 by Harry V.