First Quantum Minerals (TSE:FM) Raised to "Strong-Buy" at BMO Capital Markets

First Quantum Minerals (TSE:FM - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at BMO Capital Markets to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

FM has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Barclays decreased their price objective on First Quantum Minerals from C$25.00 to C$23.40 in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. TD Securities lifted their price target on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$19.00 to C$20.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Stifel Canada raised shares of First Quantum Minerals to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 19th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut shares of First Quantum Minerals from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from C$24.00 to C$20.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on First Quantum Minerals from C$19.70 to C$19.40 in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of C$21.77.

First Quantum Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of FM stock traded down C$0.16 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching C$16.56. 1,935,179 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,715,386. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.41, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.41. The company's 50 day moving average is C$18.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$18.74. The company has a market cap of C$9.40 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.28 and a beta of 1.73. First Quantum Minerals has a 1 year low of C$13.81 and a 1 year high of C$23.28.

First Quantum Minerals (TSE:FM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported C$0.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.03 by C$0.01. First Quantum Minerals had a negative net margin of 32.41% and a negative return on equity of 14.05%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.37) earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that First Quantum Minerals will post 0.55872 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Senior Officer Zenon Wozniak sold 40,000 shares of First Quantum Minerals stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$21.11, for a total transaction of C$844,400.00. Also, Director Charles Kevin Mcarthur acquired 25,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$17.23 per share, with a total value of C$430,842.13. 19.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a diversified mining company. The company's principal activities include mineral exploration, mine engineering and construction, and development and mining operations. The firm produces copper in concentrate, copper anode, copper cathode, nickel, gold, zinc, silver, acid, and pyrite.