Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Sets New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $12.61 and last traded at $13.06, with a volume of 2152795 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.79.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on BTU shares. Benchmark decreased their price target on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Peabody Energy from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped 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 report on Monday, January 6th.

Peabody Energy Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.98 and a beta of 0.95. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $17.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.12.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) last posted 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, research analysts forecast that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. Peabody Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.11%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peabody Energy

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Peabody Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $5,162,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Peabody Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,742,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in Peabody Energy by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 162,948 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $3,412,000 after buying an additional 17,335 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Peabody Energy by 187.6% during the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 35,081 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $735,000 after acquiring an additional 22,884 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming grew its holdings in Peabody Energy by 51.3% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 36,559 shares of the coal producer’s stock worth $766,000 after acquiring an additional 12,403 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.