Ims Capital Management Continues to Hold Stake in Paychex (PAYX); Scharf Investments Has Cut Motorola Solutions (MSI) Position as Stock Rose

Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) Logo

Ims Capital Management increased its stake in Paychex Inc (PAYX) by 25.48% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Ims Capital Management bought 5,572 shares as the company’s stock declined 12.35% with the market. The institutional investor held 27,436 shares of the consumer services company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $1.87 million, up from 21,864 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Ims Capital Management who had been investing in Paychex Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $22.12 billion market cap company. The stock increased 1.37% or $0.83 during the last trading session, reaching $61.58. About 2.02M shares traded. Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) has declined 1.72% since April 30, 2017 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 13.27% the S&P500.

Scharf Investments Llc decreased its stake in Motorola Solutions Inc (MSI) by 5.52% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Scharf Investments Llc sold 64,976 shares as the company’s stock rose 16.71% while stock markets declined. The institutional investor held 1.11M shares of the technology company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $100.45 million, down from 1.18M at the end of the previous reported quarter. Scharf Investments Llc who had been investing in Motorola Solutions Inc for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $17.81B market cap company. The stock increased 0.29% or $0.32 during the last trading session, reaching $110.15. About 921,847 shares traded. Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) has risen 26.11% since April 30, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 14.56% the S&P500.

Among 19 analysts covering Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI), 13 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 5 Hold. Therefore 68% are positive. Motorola Solutions had 51 analyst reports since August 6, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Goldman Sachs initiated Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) rating on Thursday, June 30. Goldman Sachs has “Buy” rating and $81 target. As per Monday, August 7, the company rating was maintained by Deutsche Bank. The rating was reinitiated by JP Morgan with “Neutral” on Tuesday, October 6. The firm earned “Hold” rating on Friday, August 4 by Cowen & Co. As per Tuesday, February 23, the company rating was upgraded by Bernstein. The rating was maintained by Goldman Sachs on Friday, February 3 with “Buy”. The rating was downgraded by Bernstein on Tuesday, January 5 to “Mkt Perform”. As per Monday, December 7, the company rating was downgraded by Gabelli. The stock has “Buy” rating by Cleveland on Friday, October 6. Jefferies maintained the stock with “Buy” rating in Tuesday, June 6 report.

Analysts await Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) to report earnings on May, 3. They expect $0.80 earnings per share, up 25.00% or $0.16 from last year’s $0.64 per share. MSI’s profit will be $129.36M for 34.42 P/E if the $0.80 EPS becomes a reality. After $2.03 actual earnings per share reported by Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -60.59% negative EPS growth.

Since January 9, 2018, it had 0 insider purchases, and 5 selling transactions for $47.82 million activity. Another trade for 45,577 shares valued at $4.78M was made by Wozniak John K on Monday, February 5. $1.83 million worth of stock was sold by HACKER MARK S. on Tuesday, January 9.

Investors sentiment decreased to 1.03 in Q4 2017. Its down 0.09, from 1.12 in 2017Q3. It dived, as 36 investors sold MSI shares while 165 reduced holdings. 77 funds opened positions while 130 raised stakes. 131.47 million shares or 1.55% less from 133.54 million shares in 2017Q3 were reported. State Street holds 0.06% of its portfolio in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) for 7.75M shares. First Mercantile Trust Company reported 0.51% of its portfolio in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI). Dekabank Deutsche Girozentrale has 0.33% invested in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) for 485,519 shares. E&G Limited Partnership holds 4,300 shares or 0.16% of its portfolio. Advisor Partners Ltd Liability Corporation stated it has 4,568 shares or 0.08% of all its holdings. California Pub Employees Retirement holds 0.05% of its portfolio in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) for 385,995 shares. Deutsche State Bank Ag stated it has 0.03% of its portfolio in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI). Silvercrest Asset Gru Llc owns 5,283 shares or 0% of their US portfolio. Bbva Compass Natl Bank Inc reported 4,909 shares. Ing Groep Nv has invested 0.01% in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI). 4,342 are owned by Hancock Hldg. Regions invested in 10,674 shares or 0.01% of the stock. Adage Cap Prns Group Ltd Llc invested in 233,676 shares. Moreover, Panagora Asset Mngmt has 0.1% invested in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI). Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc owns 13,450 shares.

Scharf Investments Llc, which manages about $2.69B and $4.41B US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) by 786,303 shares to 1.29M shares, valued at $145.89 million in 2017Q4, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Priceline Grp Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN) by 6,509 shares in the quarter, for a total of 109,650 shares, and has risen its stake in Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

Among 18 analysts covering Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX), 1 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 16 Hold. Therefore 6% are positive. Paychex had 54 analyst reports since August 14, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The rating was maintained by Stifel Nicolaus on Tuesday, October 3 with “Hold”. The firm has “Hold” rating given on Thursday, December 21 by BMO Capital Markets. RBC Capital Markets maintained Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) rating on Thursday, October 1. RBC Capital Markets has “Underperform” rating and $47 target. BMO Capital Markets maintained Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) on Monday, January 22 with “Hold” rating. The firm has “Buy” rating by Goldman Sachs given on Friday, December 16. RBC Capital Markets maintained Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) rating on Monday, November 20. RBC Capital Markets has “Sell” rating and $59.0 target. The stock has “Buy” rating by Argus Research on Thursday, December 24. The rating was maintained by RBC Capital Markets with “Underperform” on Thursday, December 22. The rating was downgraded by William Blair on Friday, July 21 to “Hold”. The stock of Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) has “Hold” rating given on Thursday, August 17 by Stifel Nicolaus.

Since January 4, 2018, it had 0 insider buys, and 3 insider sales for $9.83 million activity. 10,000 shares valued at $682,900 were sold by Vossler Jennifer R. on Tuesday, January 16.

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) Institutional Positions Chart