Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and issued a $29.00 target price (up previously from $27.00) on shares of Alliance Resource Partners in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Singular Research downgraded Alliance Resource Partners from a "strong-buy" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd.

Alliance Resource Partners Price Performance

Shares of ARLP traded down $1.36 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $26.62. The company's stock had a trading volume of 608,151 shares, compared to its average volume of 523,066. The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Alliance Resource Partners has a one year low of $18.32 and a one year high of $30.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.64 and a beta of 1.16. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $26.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.65.

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 return on equity of 19.09% and a net margin of 14.74%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Alliance Resource Partners will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alliance Resource Partners

In related news, SVP Timothy J. Whelan sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total value 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. The trade was a 5.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 16.80% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alliance Resource Partners during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new stake in Alliance Resource Partners during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Eastern Bank bought a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 3rd quarter worth about $72,000. Bogart Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 4th quarter valued at about $127,000. Finally, MONECO Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 4th quarter valued at about $201,000. 18.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.