Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) Given “Hold” Rating at Stifel Nicolaus

Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR)‘s stock had its “hold” rating restated by equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $4.00 target price on the industrial products company’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ target price suggests a potential upside of 138.10% from the company’s previous close.

VTNR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. HC Wainwright cut their price target on shares of Vertex Energy from $8.00 to $3.50 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Northland Securities lowered shares of Vertex Energy from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $2.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $4.88.

Vertex Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VTNR opened at $1.68 on Monday. Vertex Energy has a 12 month low of $0.95 and a 12 month high of $8.17. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertex Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Vertex Energy by 30.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,094,415 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $22,670,000 after buying an additional 1,191,692 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in shares of Vertex Energy by 14.8% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 1,319,467 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,872,000 after purchasing an additional 170,000 shares in the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vertex Energy by 27.8% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 867,801 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,942,000 after purchasing an additional 188,811 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Vertex Energy by 44.0% during the 1st quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 463,800 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $649,000 after buying an additional 141,700 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in Vertex Energy by 33.2% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 430,699 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,460,000 after buying an additional 107,400 shares during the period. 42.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Vertex Energy

Vertex Energy, Inc, an energy transition company, that focuses on the production and distribution of conventional and alternative fuels. The company engages in refining and distributing petroleum products comprising the mobile refinery and related operations. It sells ferrous and non-ferrous recyclable metal products, and markets Group III base oils and other petroleum-based products, as well as provides transportation and marine salvage services.