StockNews.com Upgrades Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) to Hold

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

CMP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $13.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Compass Minerals International from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday.

Compass Minerals International Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of Compass Minerals International stock traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $11.29. 468,782 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 486,372. The firm has a market capitalization of $468.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 2.71, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.87. Compass Minerals International has a 52-week low of $7.51 and a 52-week high of $23.59. The company has a fifty day moving average of $12.17 and a 200-day moving average of $11.96.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The basic materials company reported ($0.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.05) by ($0.50). Compass Minerals International had a negative return on equity of 2.15% and a negative net margin of 19.24%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Compass Minerals International will post 0.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Compass Minerals International

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tsfg LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Compass Minerals International during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Compass Minerals International by 629.4% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,407 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 2,077 shares in the last quarter. Denver PWM LLC increased its holdings in Compass Minerals International by 33.8% during the 3rd quarter. Denver PWM LLC now owns 3,745 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 946 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 247.7% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,110 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 2,928 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in shares of Compass Minerals International during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $80,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.78% of the company's stock.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.