Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) Shares Down 6.7% - Time to Sell?

Central Puerto S.A. (NYSE:CEPU - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 6.7% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $13.39 and last traded at $13.44. 258,711 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 39% from the average session volume of 426,461 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.41.

Central Puerto Stock Performance

The company's 50-day simple moving average is $14.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.84. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The stock has a market cap of $1.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 1.18.

Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.39 by ($0.19). Central Puerto had a return on equity of 22.76% and a net margin of 56.44%. The firm had revenue of $185.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $200.26 million. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Central Puerto S.A. will post 0.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Central Puerto Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid a dividend of $0.3954 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. This is a positive change from Central Puerto's previous -- dividend of $0.07. Central Puerto's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.16%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Central Puerto

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. William Blair Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Central Puerto during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,319,000. Ping Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Central Puerto by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 86,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,246,000 after buying an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Central Puerto by 169.1% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,942 shares of the company's stock valued at $144,000 after buying an additional 6,248 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Central Puerto in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $157,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new position in Central Puerto in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $122,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.97% of the company's stock.

Central Puerto Company Profile

Central Puerto SA engages in the electric power generation in Argentina. It operates through three segments: Electric Power Generation from Conventional Sources, Electric Power Generation from Renewable Sources, and Natural Gas Transport and Distribution. The company generates energy through thermal, hydroelectric, and wind farms.