Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP) Short Interest Down 19.0% in March

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,860,000 shares, a decline of 19.0% from the February 28th total of 3,530,000 shares. Currently, 3.2% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 361,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.9 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on the company. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $29.00 target price (up from $27.00) on shares of Alliance Resource Partners in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. StockNews.com downgraded Alliance Resource Partners from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alliance Resource Partners

In other Alliance Resource Partners news, SVP Timothy J. Whelan sold 50,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.13, for a total transaction of $1,256,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 93,850 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,358,450.50. This trade represents a 34.76 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 16.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ARLP. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Alliance Resource Partners in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. USA Financial Formulas purchased a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Summit Securities Group LLC raised its position in Alliance Resource Partners by 350.0% during the fourth quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 1,800 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 223.5% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,406 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 2,353 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming bought a new position in shares of Alliance Resource Partners during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $105,000. 18.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Alliance Resource Partners Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of ARLP stock opened at $26.93 on Wednesday. Alliance Resource Partners has a 1 year low of $20.16 and a 1 year high of $30.56. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $26.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.28. The company has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.76 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.36 and a quick ratio of 1.69.

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The energy company reported $0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.38). Alliance Resource Partners had a return on equity of 19.09% and a net margin of 14.74%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Alliance Resource Partners will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Alliance Resource Partners Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.40%. Alliance Resource Partners’s payout ratio is 101.45%.

About Alliance Resource Partners

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified natural resource company, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Illinois Basin Coal Operations, Appalachia Coal Operations, Oil & Gas Royalties, and Coal Royalties.