Renaissance Technologies LLC Decreases Stock Position in AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU)

Renaissance Technologies LLC lowered its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU - Free Report) by 62.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 43,800 shares of the mining company's stock after selling 74,116 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC's holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $1,101,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the first quarter valued at approximately $596,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,396,216 shares of the mining company's stock worth $75,396,000 after purchasing an additional 181,081 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 748.1% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 45,142 shares of the mining company's stock worth $1,002,000 after purchasing an additional 39,819 shares during the period. Cibc World Markets Corp bought a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,268,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $227,000. Institutional investors own 36.09% of the company's stock.

AngloGold Ashanti Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of AU stock traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $25.94. 2,468,554 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,955,981. AngloGold Ashanti plc has a 12 month low of $15.60 and a 12 month high of $32.57. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $28.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The mining company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.17 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that AngloGold Ashanti plc will post 2.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a boost from AngloGold Ashanti's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.7%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Scotiabank reaffirmed a "sector underperform" rating and issued a $30.00 target price (up previously from $27.00) on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Monday, August 19th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $28.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $33.00 to $32.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $32.00.

AngloGold Ashanti Profile

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.