Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) Cut to “Hold” at Craig Hallum

Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) was downgraded by stock analysts at Craig Hallum from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a $1.00 price target on the industrial products company’s stock. Craig Hallum’s target price suggests a potential upside of 138.10% from the company’s current price.

VTNR has been the topic of several other research reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Vertex Energy to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $4.00 target price on shares of Vertex Energy in a report on Monday, April 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $2.63.

Vertex Energy Trading Down 12.7 %

VTNR traded down $0.06 on Friday, hitting $0.42. The company had a trading volume of 5,394,542 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,629,165. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $0.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.18. Vertex Energy has a 1-year low of $0.40 and a 1-year high of $5.40.

Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The industrial products company reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.17) by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $695.33 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $672.52 million. Vertex Energy had a negative return on equity of 45.99% and a negative net margin of 4.50%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.58) earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Vertex Energy will post -0.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VTNR. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in Vertex Energy in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new stake in Vertex Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Vertex Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, RPO LLC bought a new stake in Vertex Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $75,000. Institutional investors own 42.99% of the company’s stock.

Vertex Energy Company Profile

Vertex Energy, Inc, an energy transition company, that focuses on the production and distribution of conventional and alternative fuels. The company engages in refining and distributing petroleum products comprising the mobile refinery and related operations. It sells ferrous and non-ferrous recyclable metal products, and markets Group III base oils and other petroleum-based products, as well as provides transportation and marine salvage services.