Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFB) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume – Time to Buy?

Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFB) shares saw strong trading volume on Thursday . 226,184 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 22% from the previous session’s volume of 185,548 shares.The stock last traded at $265.1250 and had previously closed at $266.92.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and set a $315.00 price target on shares of Bel Fuse in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on shares of Bel Fuse from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Northland Securities set a $321.00 price objective on shares of Bel Fuse in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Bel Fuse from a “hold (c)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Bel Fuse from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $307.25.

Bel Fuse Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.37 billion, a PE ratio of 60.56, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.73 and a current ratio of 3.18. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $232.73 and its 200-day moving average is $200.94.

Bel Fuse Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 15th were issued a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 15th. Bel Fuse’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.38%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Farouq Salem Ali Tuweiq sold 33,967 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.00, for a total transaction of $7,948,278.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Peter E. Gilbert sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.75, for a total value of $1,074,375.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 15,047 shares in the company, valued at $3,592,471.25. This trade represents a 23.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 5.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bel Fuse

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BELFB. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in shares of Bel Fuse by 31.4% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 35,669 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $7,062,000 after purchasing an additional 8,521 shares in the last quarter. Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in Bel Fuse in the first quarter valued at approximately $240,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Bel Fuse during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Signature Equity Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bel Fuse in the first quarter worth $39,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Bel Fuse by 6.7% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 58,028 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $11,488,000 after buying an additional 3,630 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.39% of the company’s stock.

About Bel Fuse

Bel Fuse Inc is a global manufacturer of electronic components that bridge power, data and video applications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, including board-level circuit protection devices such as fuses, positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistors and inductors; power transformers, modules and supplies; as well as connectivity solutions encompassing USB, HDMI, RJ45, coaxial and fiber-optic connectors. These products serve a wide array of end markets, including telecommunications, data communications, consumer electronics, industrial automation, automotive and renewable energy.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Oradell, New Jersey, Bel Fuse has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.