Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Given New $24.00 Price Target at BMO Capital Markets

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) had its price objective lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $25.00 to $24.00 in a report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has a market perform rating on the coal producer’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on BTU. B. Riley cut their price target on shares of Peabody Energy from $32.00 to $31.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Benchmark restated a buy rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Peabody Energy in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $28.25.

Peabody Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BTU opened at $21.86 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $24.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 2.36 and a quick ratio of 1.86. The company has a market cap of $2.78 billion, a PE ratio of 6.09 and a beta of 1.01. Peabody Energy has a 12 month low of $17.71 and a 12 month high of $27.24.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The coal producer reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.30. The business had revenue of $983.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $980.03 million. Peabody Energy had a return on equity of 14.98% and a net margin of 11.62%. The business’s revenue was down 27.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.69 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Peabody Energy will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 15th. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.37%. Peabody Energy’s payout ratio is 8.36%.

Insider Activity at Peabody Energy

In related news, COO Darren Ronald Yeates sold 31,980 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.48, for a total transaction of $814,850.40. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 78,307 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,995,262.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Nicholas J. Chirekos sold 14,000 shares of Peabody Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.50, for a total transaction of $357,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 24,279 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $619,114.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Darren Ronald Yeates sold 31,980 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.48, for a total value of $814,850.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 78,307 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,995,262.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 52,806 shares of company stock worth $1,339,565. Corporate insiders own 0.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 84.5% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,240 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 568 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Peabody Energy by 17,075.0% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,374 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,366 shares during the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. acquired a new position in Peabody Energy in the fourth quarter worth $36,000. TFO Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Peabody Energy by 48,475.0% during the fourth quarter. TFO Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,943 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,939 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Peabody Energy during the third quarter valued at $70,000. 87.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Peabody Energy

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.