UGI (NYSE:UGI) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

UGI (NYSE:UGI) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Mizuho upped their price objective on UGI from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of UGI from $28.00 to $27.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 3rd.

UGI Stock Performance

Shares of UGI opened at $23.06 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.83 billion, a P/E ratio of -56.24 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.21. UGI has a 1 year low of $20.19 and a 1 year high of $27.78. The company’s fifty day moving average is $23.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.04.

UGI (NYSE:UGI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.32. UGI had a negative net margin of 0.89% and a positive return on equity of 15.78%. The firm had revenue of $2.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.07 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.68 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 20.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that UGI will post 2.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UGI

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UGI. American National Bank purchased a new stake in shares of UGI in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Concord Wealth Partners boosted its stake in shares of UGI by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 1,274 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 637 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UGI during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of UGI in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of UGI during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 82.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About UGI

UGI Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, distributes, stores, transports, and markets energy products and related services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: AmeriGas Propane, UGI International, Midstream & Marketing, and UGI Utilities. It distributes propane to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial/industrial, motor fuel, agricultural, and wholesale customers through 1,400 propane distribution locations.