BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) Shares Purchased by Townsend & Associates Inc

Townsend & Associates Inc raised its holdings in shares of BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP - Free Report) by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 261,590 shares of the mining company's stock after acquiring an additional 10,360 shares during the period. BHP Group makes up about 1.7% of Townsend & Associates Inc's portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Townsend & Associates Inc's holdings in BHP Group were worth $16,247,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Asset Dedication LLC increased its stake in shares of BHP Group by 7,516.7% during the second quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 457 shares of the mining company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 451 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in shares of BHP Group during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BHP Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BHP Group in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its position in shares of BHP Group by 124.6% during the third quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 530 shares of the mining company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.79% of the company's stock.

BHP Group Stock Down 4.4 %

NYSE:BHP traded down $2.56 on Friday, hitting $55.19. 4,307,531 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,934,684. BHP Group Limited has a fifty-two week low of $50.90 and a fifty-two week high of $69.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $56.50 and a 200-day moving average of $56.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.70.

BHP Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th were paid a $1.465 dividend. This represents a yield of 5.2%. This is an increase from BHP Group's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $1.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 13th.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of BHP Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $72.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday, October 4th. Argus upgraded shares of BHP Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised BHP Group from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of BHP Group from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $68.00.

About BHP Group

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.