Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU) Sees Large Volume Increase - Still a Buy?

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU - Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Wednesday . 23,888 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 59% from the previous session's volume of 15,070 shares.The stock last traded at $22.30 and had previously closed at $22.43.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on BBU shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Brookfield Business Partners from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Scotiabank reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Brookfield Business Partners in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Brookfield Business Partners from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd.

Brookfield Business Partners Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $23.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $1.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -45.71 and a beta of 1.50.

Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The business services provider reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.14 by $1.33. Brookfield Business Partners had a return on equity of 5.09% and a net margin of 2.20%. As a group, analysts predict that Brookfield Business Partners L.P. will post 5.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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Brookfield Business Partners Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.0625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.12%. Brookfield Business Partners's payout ratio is presently -51.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield Business Partners

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Intact Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 52.6% in the fourth quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,900 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $68,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Gold Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Gold Investment Management Ltd. now owns 32,518 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $767,000 after buying an additional 1,017 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 41,794 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $987,000 after buying an additional 1,146 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 8.9% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,724 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $415,000 after purchasing an additional 1,448 shares during the period. Finally, K2 Principal Fund L.P. boosted its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. K2 Principal Fund L.P. now owns 52,385 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,227,000 after purchasing an additional 2,880 shares during the period. 85.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, infrastructure services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments.