Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,050,000 shares, an increase of 15.1% from the January 15th total of 2,650,000 shares. Currently, 3.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 388,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.8 days.

Alliance Resource Partners Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of ARLP traded up $0.09 on Tuesday, reaching $26.85. 172,345 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 447,619. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $26.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $25.72. Alliance Resource Partners has a 12 month low of $18.32 and a 12 month high of $30.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.72 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The energy company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.38). Alliance Resource Partners had a net margin of 14.74% and a return on equity of 19.09%. Research analysts anticipate that Alliance Resource Partners will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Alliance Resource Partners Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Alliance Resource Partners's payout ratio is 101.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Alliance Resource Partners news, SVP Timothy J. Whelan sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total transaction of $280,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 157,946 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,422,488. This represents a 5.95 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 16.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alliance Resource Partners

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its stake in Alliance Resource Partners by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 34,283 shares of the energy company's stock worth $857,000 after acquiring an additional 391 shares during the last quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. boosted its position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 0.9% during the third quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 46,905 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,173,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Cadent Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Cadent Capital Advisors LLC now owns 23,816 shares of the energy company's stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. BCS Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. BCS Wealth Management now owns 19,971 shares of the energy company's stock worth $525,000 after purchasing an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AlphaCore Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Alliance Resource Partners by 3.0% during the third quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 17,203 shares of the energy company's stock worth $430,000 after acquiring an additional 503 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 18.11% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on ARLP. Singular Research cut shares of Alliance Resource Partners from a "strong-buy" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. StockNews.com lowered Alliance Resource Partners from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $29.00 price target (up previously from $27.00) on shares of Alliance Resource Partners in a report on Tuesday, February 4th.

About Alliance Resource Partners

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified natural resource company, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Illinois Basin Coal Operations, Appalachia Coal Operations, Oil & Gas Royalties, and Coal Royalties.