Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) Sets New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

Shares of Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) hit a new 52-week low on Monday. The company traded as low as $11.09 and last traded at $11.4230, with a volume of 99,230 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.10.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on CEPU. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Central Puerto from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 19th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Central Puerto from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Central Puerto in a research note on Wednesday, August 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $22.75.

Central Puerto Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 0.85. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $13.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.28.

Central Puerto Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a special dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Monday, September 28th were given a dividend of $1.0758 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 28th. Central Puerto’s dividend payout ratio is 30.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Puerto

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tidal Investments LLC purchased a new position in Central Puerto in the 2nd quarter worth about $159,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in Central Puerto by 285.7% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 132,818 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,235,000 after purchasing an additional 98,380 shares in the last quarter. Absolute Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. bought a new position in Central Puerto in the first quarter worth approximately $4,814,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Central Puerto during the 1st quarter worth $271,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in Central Puerto during the 1st quarter worth $1,349,000. 2.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Central Puerto Company Profile

Central Puerto SA is an Argentine electricity generation company that develops, owns and operates power-generation facilities. Its portfolio includes thermal, hydroelectric and renewable energy assets, enabling the company to supply electricity from a range of generation technologies.

The company sells power primarily through Argentina’s wholesale electricity market and serves the country’s electric system. Its operations are concentrated in Argentina, where it supplies electricity to the national grid and participates in the development and expansion of domestic generation capacity.

Central Puerto was established during the restructuring and privatization of Argentina’s electricity sector and has expanded its generation portfolio through investments in conventional and renewable energy projects.