Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH) has received a significant upgrade from Wall Street Zen, moving from a hold rating to a buy rating, according to a research report issued on Saturday. This follows a series of positive assessments from various equities research analysts, indicating growing confidence in the company’s performance.
On July 14, Citigroup reaffirmed its buy rating, increasing its price target for Parker-Hannifin from $709.00 to $831.00. Similarly, Mizuho set a price objective of $785.00 on May 16, while Barclays raised its target from $750.00 to $776.00 on August 8, assigning an “overweight” rating. Evercore ISI has also maintained an “outperform” rating as of August 19.
Currently, fourteen analysts rate Parker-Hannifin as a buy, while four hold a neutral stance. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $768.71.
Strong Quarterly Earnings Report
Parker-Hannifin reported strong quarterly earnings on August 7, exceeding analysts’ expectations. The company announced earnings of $7.69 per share for the quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $7.08 by $0.61. Revenue reached $5.24 billion, exceeding projections of $5.10 billion. The firm recorded a net margin of 17.79% and a return on equity of 26.80%. Year-over-year, revenue increased by 1.1%, with earnings per share rising from $6.77 during the same period last year. For the fiscal year 2026, Parker-Hannifin has set earnings guidance between $28.40 and $29.40 per share, while analysts project earnings of $26.71 for the current fiscal year.
Dividend Announcement and Insider Activity
In addition to its positive earnings report, Parker-Hannifin announced a quarterly dividend of $1.80 per share, payable on September 12. Shareholders of record on September 2 will receive this dividend, which represents an annualized payout of $7.20 and a yield of 0.9%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands at 26.55%.
Recent insider trading activity has raised eyebrows as well. On August 8, Vice President Robert W. Malone sold 2,257 shares at an average price of $730.66, totaling approximately $1.65 million. This sale reduced his holdings by 27.79%. Another Vice President, Angela R. Ives, sold 810 shares at an average price of $727.36, amounting to about $589,161.60. Following these transactions, insiders have collectively sold 14,039 shares valued at over $10.35 million in the last ninety days, with insiders currently holding 0.39% of the stock.
Institutional investors have also been active, with significant changes in their holdings. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC and the Saudi Central Bank each acquired new stakes in Parker-Hannifin, valued at approximately $27,000 and $31,000, respectively. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds hold 82.44% of Parker-Hannifin’s stock.
Parker-Hannifin Corporation specializes in manufacturing and selling motion and control technologies across various sectors, including mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets. The company operates through two primary segments: Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems, providing a wide range of solutions for its clients.
This comprehensive update highlights the positive trajectory of Parker-Hannifin, reflecting both investor confidence and robust financial performance.