ICL Group Ltd (NYSE:ICL) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

ICL Group Ltd (NYSE:ICL - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 3,060,000 shares, an increase of 61.9% from the February 13th total of 1,890,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 933,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.3 days. Currently, 0.4% of the company's stock are short sold.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on ICL shares. StockNews.com cut shares of ICL Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Barclays upped their target price on ICL Group from $6.00 to $7.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on ICL Group from $6.00 to $6.50 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ICL. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in ICL Group by 56.8% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 5,273 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,910 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of ICL Group by 754.0% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 7,447 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 6,575 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its position in shares of ICL Group by 35.6% in the third quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 11,380 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 2,985 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its stake in shares of ICL Group by 223.7% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 10,715 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 7,405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC acquired a new position in ICL Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $54,000. 13.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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ICL Group Stock Up 0.1 %

ICL traded up $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $6.08. 704,571 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 774,323. The stock has a market cap of $7.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.10 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.56. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $5.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.96. ICL Group has a twelve month low of $3.79 and a twelve month high of $6.57.

ICL Group (NYSE:ICL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The basic materials company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.08. ICL Group had a net margin of 5.83% and a return on equity of 8.31%. The company had revenue of $1.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.65 billion. Equities analysts expect that ICL Group will post 0.37 EPS for the current year.

ICL Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be paid a $0.0403 dividend. This is a positive change from ICL Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.01. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 12th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.65%. ICL Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 50.00%.

About ICL Group

ICL Group Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty minerals and chemicals company worldwide. It operates in four segments: Industrial Products, Potash, Phosphate Solutions, and Growing Solutions. The Industrial Products segment produces bromine out of a solution that is a by-product of the potash production process, as well as bromine-based compounds; produces various grades of potash, salt, magnesium chloride, and magnesia products; and produces and markets phosphorous-based flame retardants and other phosphorus-based products.