Mutual Advisors LLC Boosts Holdings in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR)

Mutual Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR - Free Report) by 38.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,700 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 3,836 shares during the quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC's holdings in Spire were worth $941,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Spire during the third quarter valued at $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Spire by 87.2% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 438 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Spire by 1,318.4% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 539 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co boosted its stake in Spire by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 900 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Spire by 38.9% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,057 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.36% of the company's stock.

Spire Stock Performance

Shares of Spire stock traded up $0.23 on Friday, reaching $69.62. 257,773 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 276,946. Spire Inc. has a twelve month low of $56.36 and a twelve month high of $73.64. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $68.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.15, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.57.

Spire Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th were given a $3.14 dividend. This represents a $12.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 18.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 11th. This is a positive change from Spire's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. Spire's dividend payout ratio is currently 72.85%.

Insider Transactions at Spire

In other news, Treasurer Adam W. Woodard sold 1,150 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.47, for a total transaction of $77,590.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 2,587 shares of the company's stock, valued at $174,544.89. This represents a 30.77 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Paul D. Koonce purchased 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $73.61 per share, for a total transaction of $73,610.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,425 shares in the company, valued at $178,504.25. This trade represents a 70.18 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 2.33% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on SR shares. UBS Group boosted their price target on Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Mizuho raised Spire from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $65.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Friday, December 20th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH downgraded shares of Spire from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $65.50 to $60.50 in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Spire from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Spire from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $71.50.

Spire 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.