Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Sets New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $12.61 and last traded at $13.06, with a volume of 2152795 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.79.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BTU has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Benchmark dropped their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded Peabody Energy from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 16th.

Peabody Energy Trading Down 0.9 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.15. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $21.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.95.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The coal producer reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.25). Peabody Energy had a return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 8.75%. As a group, research analysts expect that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 EPS for the current year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a $0.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.35%. Peabody Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 11.11%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Peabody Energy

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BTU. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its position in Peabody Energy by 167.2% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,189 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 744 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Peabody Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 63.3% during the fourth quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 1,755 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 680 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Peabody Energy during the third quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, Altshuler Shaham Ltd grew its stake in Peabody Energy by 45.0% during the fourth quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 2,900 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the period. 87.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Peabody Energy Company Profile

Peabody Energy Corporation engages in coal mining business in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, France, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, and internationally. The company operates through Seaborne Thermal, Seaborne Metallurgical, Powder River Basin, Other U.S.