MMCAP International Inc. SPC Trims Holdings in Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU)

MMCAP International Inc. SPC cut its stake in Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU) by 47.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 52,658 shares of the coal producer’s stock after selling 48,447 shares during the quarter. MMCAP International Inc. SPC’s holdings in Peabody Energy were worth $1,103,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Byrne Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 63.3% in the fourth quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 1,755 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Peabody Energy during the third quarter valued at $43,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Peabody Energy by 139.9% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,756 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 1,607 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Peabody Energy by 69.7% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,802 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 1,151 shares during the period. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Peabody Energy by 43.0% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 3,350 shares of the coal producer’s stock valued at $89,000 after buying an additional 1,008 shares during the period. 87.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Peabody Energy Trading Down 3.5 %

Shares of BTU stock opened at $14.42 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $18.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $22.29. Peabody Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $14.30 and a 12-month high of $29.94. The firm has a market cap of $1.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 0.95.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The coal producer reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.25). Peabody Energy had a return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 8.75%. Equities analysts anticipate that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. Peabody Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.11%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on BTU. BMO Capital Markets raised Peabody Energy from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Benchmark dropped their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th.

Peabody Energy Profile

Peabody Energy Corporation engages in coal mining business in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, France, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, and internationally. The company operates through Seaborne Thermal, Seaborne Metallurgical, Powder River Basin, Other U.S.