Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) Releases Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.33 EPS

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The coal producer reported ($0.26) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.33), Briefing.com reports. Peabody Energy had a negative net margin of 1.37% and a negative return on equity of 0.93%. The business’s revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.27 EPS.

Peabody Energy Stock Down 1.5%

Shares of NYSE BTU traded down $0.39 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $26.14. 1,280,398 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,308,541. Peabody Energy has a 12 month low of $12.58 and a 12 month high of $41.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $32.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $31.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The company has a market cap of $3.18 billion, a PE ratio of -57.91 and a beta of 0.35.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a $0.075 dividend. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 23rd. Peabody Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -66.67%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BTU has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Peabody Energy from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Peabody Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings lowered Peabody Energy from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. B. Riley Financial downgraded Peabody Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $42.00 to $30.00 in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Peabody Energy from $34.50 to $36.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $35.63.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO Darren Ronald Yeates sold 13,892 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.40, for a total value of $505,668.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 113,440 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,129,216. This trade represents a 10.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.51% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peabody Energy

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Peabody Energy by 104.3% during the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,006 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,024 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in Peabody Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Tidal Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Peabody Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $142,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Peabody Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $157,000. Finally, Wexford Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Peabody Energy in the third quarter worth about $159,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.44% of the company’s stock.

About Peabody Energy

Peabody Energy Corporation is one of the world’s largest private-sector coal companies, engaged primarily in the production and sale of metallurgical and thermal coal. The company’s operations span surface and underground mines, serving utilities, steel mills and other industrial customers that rely on coal as an essential component in power generation and steelmaking. Peabody’s product portfolio includes high-energy thermal coal for electricity generation and low-volatile metallurgical coal used in steel production, reflecting its diverse end-market reach.

Founded in 1883, Peabody Energy has grown from a regional mining concern into a global energy supplier.