Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS)’s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $2.69, but opened at $2.55. Kosmos Energy shares last traded at $2.59, with a volume of 2,942,285 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered Kosmos Energy to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Kosmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th. Mizuho reiterated an “underperform” rating and set a $3.00 target price (up from $2.00) on shares of Kosmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Stephens lowered their target price on shares of Kosmos Energy from $3.00 to $2.40 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Kosmos Energy from a “sell (d)” rating to a “sell (d-)” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Kosmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $2.53.

Kosmos Energy Stock Down 4.5%

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.52 billion, a PE ratio of -1.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 0.72. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $2.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.56.

Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The oil and gas producer reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.02. Kosmos Energy had a negative return on equity of 37.60% and a negative net margin of 59.38%.The firm had revenue of $607.25 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $483.23 million. Analysts forecast that Kosmos Energy Ltd. will post 0.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Kosmos Energy

In other news, Director Roy A. Franklin sold 43,466 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.73, for a total value of $118,662.18. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 150,722 shares in the company, valued at approximately $411,471.06. The trade was a 22.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CEO Andrew G. Inglis sold 85,935 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.05, for a total value of $176,166.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 4,678,043 shares in the company, valued at $9,589,988.15. This trade represents a 1.80% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 294,580 shares of company stock worth $689,275. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kosmos Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd boosted its holdings in Kosmos Energy by 12.2% during the second quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 38,893 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 4,215 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in Kosmos Energy by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 46,938 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $130,000 after purchasing an additional 4,361 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its holdings in shares of Kosmos Energy by 7.8% during the second quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 93,441 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $197,000 after purchasing an additional 6,757 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in Kosmos Energy by 41.0% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 24,634 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 7,169 shares during the period. Finally, Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC grew its position in Kosmos Energy by 18.8% during the second quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 57,782 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 9,159 shares during the period. 95.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Kosmos Energy

Kosmos Energy Ltd. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Since its founding in 2003, the company has focused on identifying and developing hydrocarbon reserves in frontier and emerging basins around the world. Kosmos combines geological and geophysical expertise with a disciplined approach to acreage acquisition and partner selection to pursue high?impact offshore exploration opportunities.

The company’s portfolio is anchored by assets in West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.