Hess (NYSE:HES) Now Covered by StockNews.com

Stock analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Hess (NYSE:HES - Get Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. The firm set a "hold" rating on the oil and gas producer's stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of Hess from $149.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Hess from $157.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Hess from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, October 4th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Hess from $173.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Finally, Pickering Energy Partners raised Hess to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hess presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $170.50.

Hess Price Performance

Shares of HES traded down $7.14 on Wednesday, hitting $138.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,252,533 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,847,593. The company has a market capitalization of $42.74 billion, a PE ratio of 15.41 and a beta of 1.18. Hess has a fifty-two week low of $123.79 and a fifty-two week high of $163.98. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $140.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $139.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

Hess (NYSE:HES - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.32. Hess had a return on equity of 26.85% and a net margin of 21.27%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Hess will post 7.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Geurt G. Schoonman sold 6,000 shares of Hess stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.91, for a total value of $851,460.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 27,581 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,914,019.71. This trade represents a 17.87 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO John B. Hess sold 90,476 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.47, for a total value of $12,890,115.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 223,147 shares in the company, valued at $31,791,753.09. The trade was a 28.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 314,370 shares of company stock worth $45,856,309. Company insiders own 9.76% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Hess

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund increased its stake in Hess by 23.1% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 10,073 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $1,340,000 after buying an additional 1,890 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hess in the fourth quarter valued at about $163,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Hess by 215.0% during the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,205 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $293,000 after acquiring an additional 1,505 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new position in Hess during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $764,000. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in Hess by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 43,085 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $5,731,000 after purchasing an additional 1,861 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.51% of the company's stock.

Hess Company Profile

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.