Disclosed in a recent SEC filing on December 4, OShea, President at Graco GGG, made a noteworthy transaction involving the exercise of company stock options.

What Happened: A Form 4 filing from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday showed that OShea, President at Graco, a company in the Industrials sector, just exercised stock options worth 15,000 shares of GGG stock with an exercise price of $23.85.

During Wednesday’s morning session, Graco shares down by 0.11%, currently priced at $90.91. Considering the current price, OShea’s 15,000 shares have a total value of $1,005,886.

Unveiling the Story Behind Graco

Graco manufactures equipment used for managing fluids, coatings, and adhesives, specializing in difficult-to-handle materials. Graco’s business is organized into three segments: industrial, process, and contractor. The Minnesota-based firm serves a wide range of end markets, including industrial, automotive, and construction, and its broad array of products include pumps, valves, meters, sprayers, and equipment used to apply coatings, sealants, and adhesives. The firm generated roughly $2.2 billion in sales in 2023.

Key Indicators: Graco’s Financial Health

Revenue Growth: Graco’s revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 30 September, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -3.79%. This indicates a decrease in the company’s top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.

Evaluating Earnings Performance:

• Gross Margin: Achieving a high gross margin of 53.18%, the company performs well in terms of cost management and profitability within its sector.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): Graco’s EPS is below the industry average, signaling challenges in bottom-line performance with a current EPS of 0.72.

Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, Graco adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.

In-Depth Valuation Examination:

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: With a higher-than-average P/E ratio of 32.16, Graco’s stock is perceived as being overvalued in the market.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a higher-than-average P/S ratio of 7.35, Graco’s stock is perceived as being overvalued in the market, particularly in relation to sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): Boasting an EV/EBITDA ratio of 21.89, Graco demonstrates a robust market valuation, outperforming industry benchmarks.

Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company’s market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.

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Understanding the Significance of Insider Transactions

It’s important to note that insider transactions alone should not dictate investment decisions, but they can provide valuable insights.

In the realm of legality, an “insider” is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company’s equity securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to disclose their transactions through a Form 4 filing, to be submitted within two business days of the transaction.

Notably, when a company insider makes a new purchase, it is considered an indicator of their positive expectations for the stock.

Conversely, insider sells may not necessarily signal a bearish stance on the stock and can be motivated by various factors.

Breaking Down the Significance of Transaction Codes

Taking a closer look at transactions, investors often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.

Check Out The Full List Of Graco’s Insider Trades.

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This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.