Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR) Short Interest Update

Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR - Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,660,000 shares, a growth of 31.7% from the September 15th total of 1,260,000 shares. Approximately 2.1% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 667,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.5 days.

Newpark Resources Price Performance

Newpark Resources stock traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $6.98. The stock had a trading volume of 548,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 669,986. Newpark Resources has a 1-year low of $5.61 and a 1-year high of $8.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $594.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.78 and a beta of 2.86. The stock's fifty day moving average is $7.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 2.61 and a quick ratio of 1.61.

Newpark Resources (NYSE:NR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The oil and gas company reported $0.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $179.01 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $171.04 million. Newpark Resources had a return on equity of 7.49% and a net margin of 3.15%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.08 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Newpark Resources will post 0.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on NR shares. StockNews.com downgraded Newpark Resources from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and set a $12.00 target price on shares of Newpark Resources in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Newpark Resources presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $11.00.

Institutional Trading of Newpark Resources

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Newpark Resources by 495.4% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,537 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 3,775 shares during the period. Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its position in shares of Newpark Resources by 179.1% in the first quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 7,404 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 4,751 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Newpark Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $73,000. Ground Swell Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Newpark Resources during the 2nd quarter valued at $91,000. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Newpark Resources during the 1st quarter worth $86,000. 80.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.