Short Interest in VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY) Drops By 8.5%

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,210,000 shares, a decline of 8.5% from the December 31st total of 4,600,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 912,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.6 days.

Institutional Trading of VAALCO Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EGY. Versor Investments LP grew its position in shares of VAALCO Energy by 603.6% during the 4th quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 78,800 shares of the energy company's stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 67,600 shares in the last quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of VAALCO Energy by 71.2% during the 4th quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 227,200 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $993,000 after purchasing an additional 94,500 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in VAALCO Energy by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,390,838 shares of the energy company's stock worth $6,078,000 after purchasing an additional 90,364 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in VAALCO Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Navellier & Associates Inc. increased its stake in VAALCO Energy by 17.4% during the 4th quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 234,412 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $1,024,000 after purchasing an additional 34,687 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 50.32% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of VAALCO Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 20th.

VAALCO Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EGY traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $4.15. 585,307 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 846,246. The stock has a market cap of $435.64 million, a PE ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 1.18. The business's fifty day moving average is $4.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.47. VAALCO Energy has a one year low of $3.96 and a one year high of $7.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 11th. The energy company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.12 by ($0.04). VAALCO Energy had a net margin of 17.93% and a return on equity of 15.63%. The firm had revenue of $140.33 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $128.64 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.07 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that VAALCO Energy will post 0.43 earnings per share for the current year.

VAALCO Energy Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were given a dividend of $0.0625 per share. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.03%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. VAALCO Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.41%.

VAALCO Energy Company Profile

VAALCO Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Canada. The company holds 58.8% interest in the Etame production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block covering an area of approximately 46,200 gross acres located offshore in the Republic of Gabon in West Africa.