Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) Price Target Cut to $17.00 by Analysts at BMO Capital Markets

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by BMO Capital Markets from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "market perform" rating on the basic materials company's stock. BMO Capital Markets' price objective would indicate a potential upside of 50.58% from the stock's current price.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Compass Minerals International from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Wednesday.

Compass Minerals International Price Performance

Shares of Compass Minerals International stock traded down $0.21 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $11.29. 468,782 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 486,372. The firm's fifty day moving average is $12.17 and its 200-day moving average is $11.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.87. Compass Minerals International has a 52 week low of $7.51 and a 52 week high of $23.59. The stock has a market cap of $468.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.17, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.21.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The basic materials company reported ($0.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by ($0.50). Compass Minerals International had a negative return on equity of 2.15% and a negative net margin of 19.24%. Research analysts expect that Compass Minerals International will post 0.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Appian Way Asset Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Compass Minerals International in the 4th quarter worth $2,618,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new stake in Compass Minerals International during the fourth quarter valued at about $149,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Compass Minerals International by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 20,540 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 1,340 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 321,585 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $3,618,000 after acquiring an additional 8,898 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tudor Investment Corp ET AL lifted its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 146,230 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,645,000 after acquiring an additional 2,189 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.78% of the company's stock.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.