Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s What Happened

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $14.58 and last traded at $14.61, with a volume of 200134 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.64.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on BTU. Benchmark cut their price objective on shares of Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Peabody Energy from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th.

Peabody Energy Trading Down 3.5 %

The stock has a market cap of $1.75 billion, a PE ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 0.95. The company’s fifty day moving average is $18.42 and its 200-day moving average is $22.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.68.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The coal producer reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.25). Peabody Energy had a net margin of 8.75% and a return on equity of 10.33%. On average, analysts predict that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.08%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. Peabody Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.11%.

Institutional Trading of Peabody Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 167.2% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,189 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the period. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Peabody Energy during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Peabody Energy by 63.3% during the fourth quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 1,755 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Peabody Energy in the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Altshuler Shaham Ltd grew its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 45.0% in the fourth quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 2,900 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the period. 87.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Peabody Energy Company Profile

Peabody Energy Corporation engages in coal mining business in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, France, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, and internationally. The company operates through Seaborne Thermal, Seaborne Metallurgical, Powder River Basin, Other U.S.