Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS) Trading Down 6.9% - Here's Why

Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 6.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $1.69 and last traded at $1.69. Approximately 786,087 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 7,954,517 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.81.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on KOS. Benchmark lowered Kosmos Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Kosmos Energy from $5.00 to $4.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Kosmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $5.27.

Kosmos Energy Trading Up 8.6 %

The stock's 50-day moving average price is $2.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $861.18 million, a PE ratio of 4.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.24 and a beta of 1.94.

Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 24th. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.01 by ($0.02). Kosmos Energy had a return on equity of 31.08% and a net margin of 12.21%. The business had revenue of $397.66 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $387.60 million. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Kosmos Energy Ltd. will post 0.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Nealesh D. Shah sold 56,987 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.12, for a total value of $177,799.44. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1,711,580 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,340,129.60. This represents a 3.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Josh R. Marion sold 16,144 shares of Kosmos Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.12, for a total value of $50,369.28. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 172,057 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $536,817.84. This represents a 8.58 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 503,970 shares of company stock worth $1,572,386. 2.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kosmos Energy

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kosmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Disciplined Investors L.L.C. acquired a new position in shares of Kosmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Sapient Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kosmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Boothbay Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kosmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Inscription Capital LLC purchased a new position in Kosmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $46,000. 95.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kosmos Energy Company Profile

Kosmos Energy Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas along the Atlantic Margins in the United States. The company's primary assets include production projects located in offshore Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as well as gas projects located in offshore Mauritania and Senegal.