$2.18 EPS Expected for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW); Flushing Financial (FFIC) Sentiment Is 1.45

January 12, 2018 - By Louis Casey

Analysts expect W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) to report $2.18 EPS on January, 24.They anticipate $0.27 EPS change or 11.02% from last quarter’s $2.45 EPS. GWW’s profit would be $124.22 million giving it 27.26 P/E if the $2.18 EPS is correct. After having $2.90 EPS previously, W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s analysts see -24.83% EPS growth. The stock increased 2.58% or $5.97 during the last trading session, reaching $237.72. About 677,764 shares traded. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) has declined 21.15% since January 12, 2017 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 37.85% the S&P500.

Flushing Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding firm for Flushing Bank that provides banking services and products primarily to consumers, businesses, and governmental units. The company has market cap of $818.07 million. The firm offers various deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, demand accounts, NOW accounts, and certificates of deposit. It has a 16.97 P/E ratio. The Company’s loan portfolio comprises mortgage loans secured by multi-family residential, commercial real estate, one-to-four family mixed-use property, one-to-four family residential property, and commercial business loans; construction loans; small business administration loans and other small business loans; mortgage loan surrogates, such as mortgage-backed securities; the United States government securities, corporate fixed-income securities, and other marketable securities; and consumer loans, including overdraft lines of credit.

Among 18 analysts covering W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW), 2 have Buy rating, 5 Sell and 11 Hold. Therefore 11% are positive. W.W. Grainger had 92 analyst reports since July 21, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The stock has “Sell” rating by UBS on Thursday, October 19. Robert W. Baird maintained the shares of GWW in report on Tuesday, October 3 with “Hold” rating. The rating was maintained by BMO Capital Markets with “Hold” on Wednesday, October 18. The rating was maintained by Barclays Capital with “Equal Weight” on Monday, November 16. On Friday, January 27 the stock rating was maintained by Stifel Nicolaus with “Hold”. The stock of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) earned “Buy” rating by Stifel Nicolaus on Tuesday, March 8. The firm earned “Sell” rating on Tuesday, January 9 by Credit Suisse. The company was initiated on Friday, December 18 by KeyBanc Capital Markets. Credit Suisse maintained W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) on Wednesday, October 19 with “Neutral” rating. Stifel Nicolaus maintained W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) rating on Sunday, December 10. Stifel Nicolaus has “Hold” rating and $194.0 target.

Since October 20, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 2 sales for $109,569 activity. 190 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) shares with value of $39,569 were sold by Tapia Eric R. Robbins Paige K sold $70,000 worth of stock.

Investors sentiment increased to 0.98 in 2017 Q3. Its up 0.18, from 0.8 in 2017Q2. It improved, as 62 investors sold W.W. Grainger, Inc. shares while 157 reduced holdings. 62 funds opened positions while 153 raised stakes. 47.96 million shares or 3.15% more from 46.50 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Geode Cap Mngmt Ltd Liability invested in 626,043 shares or 0.04% of the stock. Kentucky Retirement Sys accumulated 3,299 shares. State Of Tennessee Treasury Department holds 0.01% or 14,621 shares. Tower Rech Cap Limited Co (Trc) reported 150 shares. Capstone invested in 2.16% or 26,993 shares. Fincl Services holds 902 shares or 0.08% of its portfolio. Bahl Gaynor Inc accumulated 12,739 shares or 0.03% of the stock. Panagora Asset Mgmt invested in 0% or 4,401 shares. Korea Invest holds 0.04% of its portfolio in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) for 52,226 shares. Axa, France-based fund reported 3,736 shares. Nbt National Bank N A New York reported 8,195 shares stake. Raymond James Tru Na holds 0.03% or 2,021 shares. Dupont Mngmt reported 8,601 shares or 0.04% of all its holdings. Cornerstone Capital Management Hldgs Limited Liability Corp accumulated 9,011 shares. Cibc Ww Mkts stated it has 0.01% in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW).

W.W. Grainger, Inc. distributes maintenance, repair, and operating supplies; and other related services and products that are used by businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The company has market cap of $13.55 billion. It operates through two divisions, U.S. and Canada. It has a 28.37 P/E ratio. The firm offers material handling equipment, safety and security supplies, lighting and electrical products, power and hand tools, pumps and plumbing supplies, cleaning and maintenance supplies, building and home inspection supplies, vehicle and fleet components, and various other products.

Since January 1, 0001, it had 0 insider buys, and 1 sale for $81,990 activity.

Ratings analysis reveals 0 of Flushing Fin’s analysts are positive. Out of 2 Wall Street analysts rating Flushing Fin, 0 give it “Buy”, 0 “Sell” rating, while 2 recommend “Hold”. FFIC was included in 2 notes of analysts from August 31, 2016. On Friday, November 11 the stock rating was downgraded by Gabelli to “Hold”. The rating was downgraded by Sandler O’Neill on Wednesday, August 31 to “Hold”.

Teton Advisors Inc. holds 1.65% of its portfolio in Flushing Financial Corporation for 599,970 shares. Alphaone Investment Services Llc owns 106,317 shares or 0.84% of their US portfolio. Moreover, Martin & Co Inc Tn has 0.58% invested in the company for 59,938 shares. The Massachusetts-based Frontier Capital Management Co Llc has invested 0.53% in the stock. Hennessy Advisors Inc, a California-based fund reported 287,000 shares.

Analysts await Flushing Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:FFIC) to report earnings on January, 30. They expect $0.42 earnings per share, up 5.00% or $0.02 from last year’s $0.4 per share. FFIC’s profit will be $11.92 million for 17.16 P/E if the $0.42 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.37 actual earnings per share reported by Flushing Financial Corporation for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts 13.51% EPS growth.

The stock increased 2.05% or $0.58 during the last trading session, reaching $28.83. About 47,542 shares traded. Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC) has risen 38.61% since January 12, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 21.91% the S&P500.