BNP Paribas Financial Markets Has $1.54 Million Stock Holdings in SM Energy (NYSE:SM)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in SM Energy (NYSE:SM - Free Report) by 245.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,430 shares of the energy company's stock after acquiring an additional 27,291 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in SM Energy were worth $1,536,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of SM Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $1,015,000. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of SM Energy by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 339,791 shares of the energy company's stock worth $13,581,000 after buying an additional 2,644 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of SM Energy by 17.6% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 165,005 shares of the energy company's stock worth $6,595,000 after purchasing an additional 24,660 shares in the last quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. increased its position in SM Energy by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 178,750 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $7,145,000 after buying an additional 12,102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pitcairn Co. increased its holdings in shares of SM Energy by 29.0% during the third quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 21,046 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $841,000 after acquiring an additional 4,734 shares in the last quarter. 94.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

SM Energy Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE SM traded up $0.52 on Monday, reaching $40.70. 1,431,796 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,681,607. SM Energy has a fifty-two week low of $34.13 and a fifty-two week high of $53.26. The company has a 50 day moving average of $43.36 and a 200 day moving average of $44.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.66 billion, a PE ratio of 5.61 and a beta of 4.15. The company has a current ratio of 3.52, a quick ratio of 3.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

SM Energy (NYSE:SM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The energy company reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $643.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $643.67 million. SM Energy had a return on equity of 19.62% and a net margin of 33.89%. The business's revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.73 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that SM Energy will post 6.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SM Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 25th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. This is an increase from SM Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. SM Energy's payout ratio is presently 11.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SM has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of SM Energy from $48.00 to $46.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of SM Energy in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on SM Energy from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. upgraded SM Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Finally, Tudor Pickering raised SM Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $51.00.

SM Energy Company Profile

SM Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids in the state of Texas. It has working interests in oil and gas producing wells in the Midland Basin and South Texas. The company was formerly known as St.