Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) Cut to Sell at StockNews.com

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK - Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report issued on Tuesday.

Several other analysts also recently commented on CPK. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Chesapeake Utilities to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Chesapeake Utilities from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Chesapeake Utilities currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $123.00.

Chesapeake Utilities Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE CPK traded down $1.30 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $132.27. 95,489 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 103,041. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $128.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $3.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.83 and a beta of 0.66. Chesapeake Utilities has a fifty-two week low of $102.64 and a fifty-two week high of $136.73.

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.63 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $215.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $237.84 million. Chesapeake Utilities had a net margin of 14.16% and a return on equity of 9.08%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.64 EPS. Analysts predict that Chesapeake Utilities will post 5.39 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Chesapeake Utilities

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CPK. Spire Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Chesapeake Utilities in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 587.1% in the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 213 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 2,018.2% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 233 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Chesapeake Utilities during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Byrne Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Chesapeake Utilities by 114.3% during the first quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 270 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.11% of the company's stock.

About Chesapeake Utilities

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida.