B2Gold (NYSE:BTG) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Here's What Happened

B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 19,885,245 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 16% from the previous session's volume of 17,105,226 shares.The stock last traded at $3.01 and had previously closed at $2.90.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BTG has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cormark upgraded shares of B2Gold from a "hold" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. CIBC dropped their target price on shares of B2Gold from $3.70 to $3.30 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. TD Securities lowered shares of B2Gold from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of B2Gold from a "buy" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $4.02.

B2Gold Trading Up 1.5 %

The company's 50 day moving average price is $2.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.32 billion, a PE ratio of -6.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.09.

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B2Gold Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be paid a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. B2Gold's dividend payout ratio is currently -16.67%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On B2Gold

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in B2Gold by 35.0% during the third quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 13,500 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 3,500 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its stake in B2Gold by 45.4% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 16,933 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 5,288 shares during the period. Cadence Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in B2Gold by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC now owns 237,696 shares of the company's stock worth $580,000 after purchasing an additional 7,990 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC raised its stake in B2Gold by 176.1% during the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 12,935 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 8,250 shares during the period. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald L. P. purchased a new position in B2Gold during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. 61.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About B2Gold

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.