Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Shares Gap Up - Should You Buy?

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $13.35, but opened at $13.94. Peabody Energy shares last traded at $13.90, with a volume of 810,935 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Benchmark decreased their price objective on shares of Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Peabody Energy from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, December 16th.

Peabody Energy Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 billion, a PE ratio of 5.18 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.68. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $15.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.10.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The coal producer reported $0.28 earnings per share 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, equities analysts forecast that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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Peabody Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 19th were issued a $0.075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.15%. Peabody Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.11%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peabody Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Peabody Energy by 144.2% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,951 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 2,333 shares in the last quarter. Elevate Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Peabody Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $1,889,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Peabody Energy by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 327,601 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $6,860,000 after buying an additional 7,586 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its stake in Peabody Energy by 15.7% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 43,766 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $916,000 after buying an additional 5,940 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in Peabody Energy by 52.1% during the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 57,800 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $1,210,000 after buying an additional 19,800 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.44% of the company's stock.

About Peabody Energy

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.