Newpark Resources (NYSE:NR) Lowered to "Hold" at StockNews.com

Newpark Resources (NYSE:NR - Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Separately, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $12.00 target price on shares of Newpark Resources in a report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Newpark Resources currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $11.00.

Newpark Resources Stock Performance

NYSE:NR traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $7.44. 393,265 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 672,565. Newpark Resources has a one year low of $5.61 and a one year high of $8.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 2.61. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $7.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $633.90 million, a PE ratio of 41.33 and a beta of 2.87.

Newpark Resources (NYSE:NR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The oil and gas company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $179.01 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $171.04 million. Newpark Resources had a net margin of 3.15% and a return on equity of 7.49%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.08 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Newpark Resources will post 0.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Newpark Resources by 182.5% during the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 647,930 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $4,678,000 after acquiring an additional 418,570 shares in the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Newpark Resources during the fourth quarter worth about $2,567,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Newpark Resources by 210.2% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 516,427 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $3,729,000 after buying an additional 349,935 shares during the period. 1492 Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Newpark Resources in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,193,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Newpark Resources by 19.9% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,891,740 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $15,720,000 after buying an additional 313,451 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.81% of the company's stock.

Newpark Resources Company Profile

Newpark Resources, Inc provides products, rentals, and services primarily to the oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. It operates through two segments, Fluids Systems and Industrial Solutions. The Fluids Systems segment provides drilling, completion, and stimulation fluids products and related technical services to customers primarily in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as other countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin America.