Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Stock Price Up 5.2% - Time to Buy?

Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report)'s share price shot up 5.2% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $13.67 and last traded at $13.58. 1,319,841 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 52% from the average session volume of 2,774,660 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.90.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Benchmark reduced their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group cut 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 objective for the company in a research report on Monday, December 16th.

Peabody Energy Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market cap of $1.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.74 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $21.56.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities analysts expect 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 firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th were issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was 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%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peabody Energy

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,897 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $183,000 after purchasing an additional 611 shares during the period. Byrne Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Peabody Energy by 63.3% in the fourth quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 1,755 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Peabody Energy by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 13,234 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $277,000 after buying an additional 693 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 744 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 24,556 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $514,000 after acquiring an additional 885 shares in the last quarter. 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.