Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSE:BIR) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSE:BIR - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the ten analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, one has assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$6.45.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on BIR shares. TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$5.50 to C$5.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on Birchcliff Energy from C$6.50 to C$6.00 in a report on Friday, September 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on Birchcliff Energy from C$6.00 to C$5.75 in a report on Friday, November 15th. Cormark raised Birchcliff Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$7.50 to C$7.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th.

Birchcliff Energy Stock Performance

Shares of BIR opened at C$4.71 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.27 billion, a PE ratio of 29.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.93. Birchcliff Energy has a 52-week low of C$4.53 and a 52-week high of C$6.54. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$5.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$5.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.26.

Birchcliff Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.49%. Birchcliff Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 250.00%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Senior Officer Hue Tran sold 31,400 shares of Birchcliff Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, December 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$5.02, for a total value of C$157,628.00. Also, Director Aaron Jeffery Tonken sold 200,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$5.53, for a total value of C$1,106,000.00. Insiders sold a total of 260,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,409,488 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.55% of the company's stock.

About Birchcliff Energy

Birchcliff Energy Ltd is an intermediate oil and gas company that explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, light oil, and natural gas liquids. The company conducts its drilling program in resource plays located in the Peace River Arch region of Alberta. Birchcliff focuses on operating nearly all its high working production, which is surrounded by blocks of high working interest lands where it owns and/or controls the infrastructure.