Franklin Resources Inc. Trims Stake in Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ:CROX)

Franklin Resources Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ:CROX) by 6.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 43,487 shares of the textile maker’s stock after selling 3,113 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.07% of Crocs worth $4,763,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in CROX. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC increased its position in Crocs by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 3,114 shares of the textile maker’s stock worth $341,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Crocs by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 6,626 shares of the textile maker’s stock worth $726,000 after buying an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Crocs by 9.9% in the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 1,437 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $157,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Crocs by 46.6% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 447 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in Crocs by 38.3% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 744 shares of the textile maker’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. 93.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Crocs

In other news, EVP Shannon Sisler sold 4,659 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.75, for a total transaction of $511,325.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 29,299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,215,565.25. The trade was a 13.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Adam Michaels sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.69, for a total transaction of $1,600,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 89,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,529,870.87. This trade represents a 14.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.72% of the company’s stock.

Crocs Stock Down 4.1 %

CROX stock opened at $95.50 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.97, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.62. Crocs, Inc. has a 1-year low of $86.11 and a 1-year high of $165.32. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $102.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $110.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.70.

Crocs (NASDAQ:CROX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The textile maker reported $2.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.27 by $0.25. Crocs had a net margin of 23.16% and a return on equity of 46.27%. Research analysts predict that Crocs, Inc. will post 13.2 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on CROX shares. StockNews.com lowered Crocs from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Guggenheim decreased their price target on Crocs from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Crocs from $125.00 to $122.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Crocs from $138.00 to $127.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $129.00 price target on shares of Crocs in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.93.

Crocs Company Profile

Crocs, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells casual lifestyle footwear and accessories for men, women, and children under Crocs and HEYDUDE Brand in the United States and internationally. The company offers various footwear products, including clogs, sandals, slides, flips, wedges, platforms, socks, boots, charms, flip flops, sneakers, and slippers.