Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) Shares Gap Down - Should You Sell?

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $26.66, but opened at $26.05. Alliance Resource Partners shares last traded at $26.39, with a volume of 31,016 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on ARLP. Benchmark increased their price objective on Alliance Resource Partners from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. StockNews.com lowered Alliance Resource Partners from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Singular Research lowered Alliance Resource Partners from a "strong-buy" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd.

Alliance Resource Partners Stock Down 2.8 %

The stock has a market cap of $3.32 billion, a PE ratio of 7.42 and a beta of 1.16. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $26.36 and a 200 day moving average of $24.96. 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 (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 28th. The energy company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.82 by ($0.16). The firm had revenue of $613.57 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $646.17 million. Alliance Resource Partners had a return on equity of 23.74% and a net margin of 18.52%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. will post 3.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alliance Resource Partners Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 7th were issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.80%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 7th. Alliance Resource Partners's payout ratio is 79.55%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Institutional Trading of Alliance Resource Partners

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 2,400.0% in the 3rd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 67,675 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $1,692,000 after buying an additional 64,968 shares during the period. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 89.8% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 72,099 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $1,764,000 after buying an additional 34,106 shares during the period. Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,144,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $7,500,000. Finally, Crescent Grove Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 15.5% in the 3rd quarter. Crescent Grove Advisors LLC now owns 208,793 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $5,220,000 after buying an additional 28,016 shares during the period. 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.