Charles E. McLaughlin, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortive Corp (NYSE:), has sold 6,864 shares of the company’s common stock. The transaction, which took place on September 13, 2024, resulted in a total sale value of approximately $508,141, with the shares being sold at a weighted average price of $74.03.
Investors tracking insider transactions might note that these shares were sold in multiple transactions with prices ranging from $74.02 to $74.06. Following the sale, McLaughlin’s direct ownership in the company stands at 73,391 shares of common stock.
Fortive Corp, an industrial technology company, is known for its work in the field of industrial instruments for measurement, display, and control. The company’s business address is located in Everett, Washington, and it is incorporated in Delaware.
The sale was publicly disclosed in a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The document was signed by Daniel B. Kim as attorney-in-fact on September 16, 2024. According to the footnote in the filing, McLaughlin is committed to providing full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range, upon request.
Investors often monitor insider sales as they may provide insights into an executive’s perspective on the company’s current valuation and future prospects. However, it is also common for executives to sell shares for personal financial management reasons, unrelated to their outlook on the company’s performance.
In other recent news, Fortive Corporation has experienced several noteworthy developments. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Fortive with an Overweight rating, anticipating a recovery to $89 per share. This optimistic outlook is based on a projected near-term increase in orders and the strength of Fortive’s broader portfolio, which includes Workforce Productive Solutions and Healthcare Consumables.
Mizuho has upgraded Fortive’s stock rating to Outperform from Neutral, following the company’s announcement to spin off its Precision Technologies segment into a new independent public company, NewCo. However, Wolfe Research revised its rating from “Outperform” to “Peer Perform,” reflecting the implications of the spinoff on Fortive’s business structure.
TD Cowen sustained its Buy rating for Fortive, citing the strategic move to focus on stock buybacks as part of its capital allocation strategy. Baird reiterated its Outperform rating based on the company’s decision to spin off its Precision Technologies segment.
In terms of financial performance, Fortive’s Q2 revenues were reported at $1.52 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share at $0.93, slightly exceeding consensus estimates. These are the recent developments in Fortive’s business operations and strategies.
InvestingPro Insights
Following the recent insider sale by Fortive Corp’s (NYSE:FTV) Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Charles E. McLaughlin, investors may be keen to understand the company’s financial health and market performance. According to InvestingPro data, Fortive Corp has a market capitalization of $25.87 billion and is trading at a P/E ratio of 29.27, indicating a high valuation relative to near-term earnings growth. This aligns with an InvestingPro Tip that highlights the company’s high P/E ratio in the context of its earnings growth. Moreover, the company’s gross profit margin stands at an impressive 59.67% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, which is a testament to its operational efficiency.
Another notable InvestingPro Tip for Fortive Corp is that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year. This is supported by the fact that the company has been profitable over the last twelve months, with a reported operating income of $1.167 billion and an operating income margin of 18.97%. These figures may offer some assurance to investors who are considering the implications of the insider sale.
For those interested in a deeper dive into Fortive Corp’s performance and metrics, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at These tips could provide further context on the company’s valuation and financial health, which are crucial for making informed investment decisions.
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