North Star Investment Management Corp. Sells 44,886 Shares of Escalade, Incorporated (NASDAQ:ESCA)

North Star Investment Management Corp. trimmed its stake in Escalade, Incorporated (NASDAQ:ESCA – Get Rating) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 506,952 shares of the company’s stock after selling 44,886 shares during the quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. owned approximately 3.73% of Escalade worth $5,161,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in Escalade by 26.8% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 13,502 shares of the company’s stock valued at $135,000 after purchasing an additional 2,852 shares in the last quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC boosted its stake in shares of Escalade by 36.1% during the 3rd quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 15,232 shares of the company’s stock worth $152,000 after acquiring an additional 4,041 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Escalade during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $396,000. Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Escalade during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $409,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Escalade by 146.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 31,718 shares of the company’s stock worth $419,000 after acquiring an additional 18,834 shares during the period. 22.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Escalade in a research note on Thursday. They set a “hold” rating for the company.

Escalade Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ESCA opened at $12.77 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 4.83, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Escalade, Incorporated has a 12 month low of $9.25 and a 12 month high of $14.69. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.55 and a 200-day moving average of $11.19. The company has a market capitalization of $173.80 million, a P/E ratio of 9.60 and a beta of 1.12.

Escalade Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 20th. Investors of record on Monday, March 13th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 10th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.70%. Escalade’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.11%.

Escalade Company Profile

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Escalade, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of sporting goods and recreational equipment. It offers archery, table tennis, basketball, pickleball, play systems, fitness, safety and utility weights, game tables, water sports, darts, and outdoor games equipment. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Evansville, IN.