Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) Shares Down 5.7% - What's Next?

The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS - Get Free Report)'s share price was down 5.7% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $25.49 and last traded at $25.41. Approximately 4,067,241 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 15% from the average daily volume of 4,794,116 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.95.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MOS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Barclays lowered Mosaic from an "overweight" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $30.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Mosaic from $40.00 to $30.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Mizuho increased their price target on Mosaic from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Mosaic in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a "market perform" rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of Mosaic in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $33.80.

Mosaic Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $8.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.48, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.34. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $26.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

Mosaic Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 6th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This is a positive change from Mosaic's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 6th. Mosaic's dividend payout ratio is presently 74.34%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mosaic

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brooklyn Investment Group grew its position in Mosaic by 110.8% during the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,117 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 587 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Mosaic during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. Tobam purchased a new stake in Mosaic during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mosaic in the fourth quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mosaic by 46.4% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,799 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 570 shares during the period. 77.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Mosaic

The Mosaic Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. It owns and operates mines, which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients, such as diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ammoniated phosphate products; and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients primarily under the Biofos and Nexfos brand names, as well as produces a double sulfate of potash magnesia product under K-Mag brand name.