Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,680,000 shares, a decrease of 13.7% from the September 30th total of 6,580,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,970,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.9 days. Approximately 4.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Insider Activity

In other Helix Energy Solutions Group news, CEO Owen E. Kratz sold 298,419 shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.92, for a total transaction of $3,557,154.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,171,860 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $85,488,571.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 6.37% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Helix Energy Solutions Group

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HLX. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 31.3% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 49,512 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $550,000 after buying an additional 11,804 shares during the period. Semanteon Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $628,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group by 21.8% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 27,962 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 5,013 shares during the period. Creative Planning bought a new stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $187,000. Finally, Affinity Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group by 2.8% during the third quarter. Affinity Wealth Management LLC now owns 204,852 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $2,274,000 after purchasing an additional 5,582 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.33% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on HLX. BTIG Research downgraded Helix Energy Solutions Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Raymond James started coverage on Helix Energy Solutions Group in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. They issued a "strong-buy" rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com lowered Helix Energy Solutions Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday.

Helix Energy Solutions Group Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group stock traded down $0.16 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $9.28. 2,189,978 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,836,607. The company has a quick ratio of 2.08, a current ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market cap of $1.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -44.19 and a beta of 2.41. Helix Energy Solutions Group has a 1 year low of $8.82 and a 1 year high of $13.05. The stock's fifty day moving average is $10.35 and its 200 day moving average is $10.95.

Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.02. Helix Energy Solutions Group had a positive return on equity of 4.35% and a negative net margin of 0.49%. The business had revenue of $342.42 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $354.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.19 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Helix Energy Solutions Group will post 0.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Helix Energy Solutions Group

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, an offshore energy services company, provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, the East Coast of the United States, North Sea, the Asia Pacific, and West Africa regions. The company operates through four segments: Well Intervention, Robotics, Production Facilities, and Shallow Water Abandonment segments.