CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) Sees Strong Trading Volume - Still a Buy?

CVR Partners, LP (NYSE:UAN - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Monday . Approximately 14,468 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 42% from the previous session's volume of 24,995 shares.The stock last traded at $77.34 and had previously closed at $76.97.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of CVR Partners from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th.

CVR Partners Stock Performance

The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $73.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 2.15. The company has a market capitalization of $1.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.32 and a beta of 1.36.

CVR Partners Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a dividend of $1.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.25%. CVR Partners's payout ratio is 95.77%.

Insider Transactions at CVR Partners

In other news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn acquired 23,910 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $68.76 per share, for a total transaction of $1,644,051.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 55,552 shares in the company, valued at $3,819,755.52. This trade represents a 75.56 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders acquired 88,647 shares of company stock valued at $6,329,766.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Oxbow Advisors LLC raised its stake in CVR Partners by 10.5% in the third quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 3,100 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $208,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CVR Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $51,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its position in CVR Partners by 12.8% in the third quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 10,458 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $702,000 after purchasing an additional 1,187 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Alliance LLC lifted its holdings in shares of CVR Partners by 9.0% during the second quarter. Founders Financial Alliance LLC now owns 16,898 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,279,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Finally, Apollon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of CVR Partners in the third quarter worth approximately $244,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.83% of the company's stock.

About CVR Partners

CVR Partners, LP, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and sale of nitrogen fertilizer products in the United States. The company offers ammonia products for agricultural and industrial customers; and urea ammonium nitrate products to agricultural customers, as well as retailers and distributors.