Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,860,000 shares, a drop of 19.0% from the February 28th total of 3,530,000 shares. Currently, 3.2% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 361,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.9 days.

Insider Activity at Alliance Resource Partners

In other Alliance Resource Partners news, SVP Timothy J. Whelan sold 50,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.13, for a total transaction of $1,256,500.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 93,850 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,358,450.50. The trade was a 34.76 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Alliance Resource Partners

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in Alliance Resource Partners in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Summit Securities Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 350.0% during the fourth quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 1,800 shares of the energy company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in Alliance Resource Partners by 223.5% during the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,406 shares of the energy company's stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 2,353 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in Alliance Resource Partners during the 4th quarter worth approximately $105,000. Institutional investors own 18.11% of the company's stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ARLP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and set a $29.00 price target (up from $27.00) on shares of Alliance Resource Partners in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Alliance Resource Partners from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th.

Alliance Resource Partners Stock Performance

NASDAQ ARLP traded down $1.62 during trading on Friday, reaching $25.04. 1,375,336 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 357,551. Alliance Resource Partners has a fifty-two week low of $20.59 and a fifty-two week high of $30.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.07 and a beta of 0.62. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $26.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.36 and a quick ratio of 1.69.

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The energy company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.60 by ($0.38). Alliance Resource Partners had a return on equity of 19.09% and a net margin of 14.74%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Alliance Resource Partners will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Alliance Resource Partners Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.18%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Alliance Resource Partners's payout ratio is presently 101.45%.

Alliance Resource Partners Company Profile

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified natural resource company, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Illinois Basin Coal Operations, Appalachia Coal Operations, Oil & Gas Royalties, and Coal Royalties.