Birchcliff Energy (TSE:BIR) Share Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSE:BIR - Get Free Report)'s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$5.63 and traded as high as C$5.74. Birchcliff Energy shares last traded at C$5.70, with a volume of 675,068 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BIR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their target price on Birchcliff Energy from C$6.00 to C$5.75 in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Cormark raised shares of Birchcliff Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Scotiabank cut their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$7.50 to C$7.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$5.50 to C$5.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, National Bankshares cut their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$6.50 to C$6.00 in a report on Friday, September 27th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of C$6.45.

Birchcliff Energy Stock Up 2.6 %

The company's 50 day simple moving average is C$5.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$5.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.26, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.52. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 36.56, a PEG ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.93.

Birchcliff Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.84%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. Birchcliff Energy's payout ratio is 250.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

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.