Franklin Resources Inc. Cuts Stock Position in B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG)

Franklin Resources Inc. lessened its stake in B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG - Free Report) by 5.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,908,795 shares of the company's stock after selling 518,534 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.68% of B2Gold worth $21,788,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BTG. Norges Bank bought a new position in B2Gold during the fourth quarter worth about $40,192,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in B2Gold by 31.3% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 22,658,771 shares of the company's stock worth $55,436,000 after buying an additional 5,401,334 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its holdings in B2Gold by 37.4% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 8,139,040 shares of the company's stock worth $21,243,000 after buying an additional 2,215,319 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in B2Gold by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 53,010,477 shares of the company's stock valued at $129,823,000 after buying an additional 1,165,204 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in B2Gold by 210.7% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,608,343 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,924,000 after acquiring an additional 1,090,768 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.40% of the company's stock.

B2Gold Price Performance

Shares of BTG stock traded up $0.18 during trading on Friday, hitting $3.24. The company had a trading volume of 57,281,730 shares, compared to its average volume of 20,030,659. The stock's 50-day moving average is $2.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. B2Gold Corp. has a 52 week low of $2.20 and a 52 week high of $3.50.

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B2Gold Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th were issued a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 7th. B2Gold's payout ratio is -16.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. CIBC lifted their price target on B2Gold from $3.30 to $3.60 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Raymond James reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $4.50 target price on shares of B2Gold in a report on Friday, April 4th. Cormark cut B2Gold from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. National Bankshares restated an "outperform" rating on shares of B2Gold in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of B2Gold from a "buy" rating to an "underperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $4.21.

B2Gold Profile

B2Gold Corp. operates as a gold producer company. It operates the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines, and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia. The company also has an 100% interest in the Gramalote gold project in Colombia; 24% interest in the Calibre Mining Corp.; and approximately 19% interest in BeMetals Corp.