Short Interest in BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) Increases By 5.7%

BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHPGet Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 9,480,000 shares, a growth of 5.7% from the December 15th total of 8,970,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,170,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.4 days.

BHP Group Price Performance

Shares of BHP stock traded up $0.50 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $50.06. The stock had a trading volume of 2,348,979 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,768,061. BHP Group has a 12 month low of $48.06 and a 12 month high of $63.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $50.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.21.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BHP Group

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of BHP Group by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 5,101 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $317,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in BHP Group by 17.5% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,365 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Essex Savings Bank lifted its position in BHP Group by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Essex Savings Bank now owns 7,483 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $365,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in BHP Group by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,150 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $506,000 after buying an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BHP Group by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 6,012 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $373,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 3.79% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of BHP Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of BHP Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BHP Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.00.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BHP

BHP Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.

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