Entropy Technologies LP Buys 9,962 Shares of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR)

Entropy Technologies LP grew its holdings in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR - Free Report) by 175.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,637 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 9,962 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Spire were worth $1,052,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Spire by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,626,863 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $345,321,000 after buying an additional 65,486 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 944,387 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $57,351,000 after acquiring an additional 72,119 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Spire by 11.0% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 698,819 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $42,439,000 after acquiring an additional 69,020 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 1.7% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 644,525 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $39,142,000 after purchasing an additional 10,562 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Spire by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 501,852 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $30,477,000 after purchasing an additional 2,598 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.36% of the company's stock.

Spire Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of SR traded up $0.27 on Thursday, hitting $65.96. The company's stock had a trading volume of 319,985 shares, compared to its average volume of 415,023. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.52. Spire Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $56.36 and a fifty-two week high of $68.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $65.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.51.

Spire Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th will be paid a dividend of $3.14 per share. This is an increase from Spire's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. This represents a $12.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 19.04%. Spire's payout ratio is currently 72.60%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on SR shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH downgraded Spire from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $65.50 to $60.50 in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Spire from $64.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Spire from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Spire from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Spire presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $66.19.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Gerard J. Gorla sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.82, for a total value of $32,410.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 7,311 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $473,899.02. This represents a 6.40 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 2.86% of the company's stock.

Spire Company Profile

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.