Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Reaches New 52-Week Low – What’s Next?

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU) shares reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $12.05 and last traded at $12.11, with a volume of 2486383 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.29.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Peabody Energy Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 2.15, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.43 and a beta of 0.94. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $15.18 and its 200-day moving average is $20.69.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 8.75%. On average, analysts predict that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 19th were issued a $0.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. Peabody Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.11%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Peabody Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Peabody Energy by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,631,707 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $202,546,000 after buying an additional 540,219 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 7,346,729 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $153,841,000 after acquiring an additional 88,466 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Peabody Energy by 6.0% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,785,337 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $79,265,000 after acquiring an additional 215,614 shares during the period. Progeny 3 Inc. boosted its holdings in Peabody Energy by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Progeny 3 Inc. now owns 3,620,014 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $75,803,000 after acquiring an additional 40,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Peabody Energy by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,918,536 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $77,473,000 after purchasing an additional 216,887 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.44% of the company’s stock.

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.