Asset Advisors Corp reduced its position in shares of Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) by 14.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 29,410 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,055 shares during the period. Asset Advisors Corp’s holdings in Monsanto Company were worth $2,897,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Park National boosted its position in Monsanto Company by 18.1% in the fourth quarter. Park National now owns 3,095 shares of the company’s stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust of Waco, Texas purchased a new position in Monsanto Company during the fourth quarter worth approximately $254,000. Trinity Street Asset Management boosted its position in Monsanto Company by 47.0% in the fourth quarter. Trinity Street Asset Management now owns 597,961 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,911,000 after buying an additional 191,171 shares during the period. Centre Asset Management boosted its position in Monsanto Company by 27.9% in the fourth quarter. Centre Asset Management now owns 123,510 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,168,000 after buying an additional 26,980 shares during the period. Finally, McQueen, Ball & Associates purchased a new position in Monsanto Company during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,068,000.

Shares of Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) traded down 0.52% during midday trading on Monday, hitting $90.13. 738,961 shares of the stock traded hands. Monsanto Company has a one year low of $81.22 and a one year high of $126.00. The stock has a market cap of $39.69 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $93.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.06.

Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 6th. The company reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.22) by $0.11. The firm earned $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.47 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 22.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Monsanto Company will post $5.13 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 8th will be issued a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.38%.

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on MON shares. Vetr raised Monsanto Company from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $106.76 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 6th. Credit Suisse reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $109.00 price objective on shares of Monsanto Company in a research report on Friday, January 8th. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised Monsanto Company from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 26th. Piper Jaffray reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $109.00 price objective (down previously from $113.00) on shares of Monsanto Company in a research report on Friday, January 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Monsanto Company from $95.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Friday, November 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $111.51.

In other Monsanto Company news, EVP Kerry J. Preete sold 4,667 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.62, for a total value of $446,258.54. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 41,069 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,927,017.78. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) is a provider of agricultural products for farmers. The Company’s seeds, biotechnology trait products, and herbicides provide farmers with solutions that improve productivity, reduce the costs of farming, and produce better foods for consumers and better feed for animals. It manages business in two segments: Seeds and Genomics, and Agricultural Productivity. Through its Seeds and Genomics segment, it produces seed brands, including DEKALB, Asgrow, Deltapine, Seminis and De Ruiter, and it develops biotechnology traits that assist farmers in controlling insects and weeds. Through its Agricultural Productivity segment, it manufactures Roundup brand herbicides and other herbicides and provides lawn-and-garden herbicide products for the residential market.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:MON

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