Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB) Hits New 1-Year Low - Should You Sell?

Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $12.79 and last traded at $12.88, with a volume of 135476 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.92.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Citigroup raised shares of Core Laboratories from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Core Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $17.50.

Core Laboratories Stock Down 10.0 %

The company's 50 day simple moving average is $15.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $493.22 million, a PE ratio of 16.00, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a current ratio of 2.32.

Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.23. Core Laboratories had a return on equity of 16.24% and a net margin of 5.99%. On average, analysts forecast that Core Laboratories Inc. will post 0.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Core Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were given a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Core Laboratories's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.06%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Core Laboratories

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Assetmark Inc. purchased a new stake in Core Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in Core Laboratories by 173.8% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,037 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,293 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Core Laboratories by 2,688.5% during the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,426 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,339 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in Core Laboratories by 843.7% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,284 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 2,936 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets acquired a new stake in Core Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at $123,000. 97.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Core Laboratories

Core Laboratories Inc provides reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States, and internationally. It operates through Reservoir Description and Production Enhancement segments. The Reservoir Description segment includes the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock and reservoir fluid samples to enhance production and improve recovery of crude oil and gas from its clients' reservoirs.