Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume – Still a Buy?

Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP) shares saw strong trading volume on Wednesday . 37,320 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 33% from the previous session’s volume of 28,105 shares.The stock last traded at $104.06 and had previously closed at $103.00.

Natural Resource Partners Trading Down 0.7 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.35 and a beta of 0.39. The company’s 50 day moving average is $104.39 and its 200 day moving average is $101.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 2.33 and a current ratio of 2.33.

Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 28th. The energy company reported $3.15 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $65.73 million during the quarter. Natural Resource Partners had a net margin of 68.22% and a return on equity of 39.69%.

Natural Resource Partners Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be paid a dividend of $1.21 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 11th. This is an increase from Natural Resource Partners’s previous dividend of $0.35. Natural Resource Partners’s payout ratio is currently 26.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Resource Partners

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NRP. US Bancorp DE acquired a new stake in Natural Resource Partners during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Covestor Ltd acquired a new stake in Natural Resource Partners during the third quarter worth $60,000. Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Natural Resource Partners during the fourth quarter worth $89,000. Avalon Capital Management acquired a new position in Natural Resource Partners during the fourth quarter worth $222,000. Finally, Formidable Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Natural Resource Partners during the fourth quarter worth $222,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.77% of the company’s stock.

About Natural Resource Partners

Natural Resource Partners L.P., together with its subsidiaries, owns, manages, and leases a portfolio of mineral properties in the United States. It operates in two segments, Mineral Rights and Soda Ash. The company owns interests in coal, soda ash, trona, and other natural resources. Its coal reserves are primarily located in the Appalachia Basin, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin in the United States; industrial minerals and aggregates properties located in the United States; and oil and gas properties located in Louisiana.