Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) Rating Lowered to "Strong Sell" at Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research downgraded Korea Electric Power to “strong sell” from “hold,” while other analysts also turned more cautious. The stock’s consensus rating is “Reduce,” based on three Hold and two Sell ratings.
• Korea Electric Power shares were trading at $11.88, down 2.7%, near the lower end of their 12-month range of $11.15 to $23.41. The company has a $15.26 billion market capitalization and high leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56.
• The utility missed quarterly expectations, reporting $0.27 in EPS versus the $0.45 consensus and revenue of $14.15 billion versus $15.31 billion expected. Analysts anticipate full-year EPS of $2.56.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Zacks reports.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on KEP. Morgan Stanley cut Korea Electric Power from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Korea Electric Power from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Nomura lowered Korea Electric Power from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Korea Electric Power has a consensus rating of "Reduce".

Korea Electric Power Trading Down 2.7%

NYSE:KEP opened at $11.88 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $11.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56. Korea Electric Power has a twelve month low of $11.15 and a twelve month high of $23.41. The company has a market cap of $15.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.95.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.45 by ($0.18). Korea Electric Power had a return on equity of 18.25% and a net margin of 8.95%.The company had revenue of $14.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.31 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Korea Electric Power will post 2.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KEP. Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Korea Electric Power in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its position in shares of Korea Electric Power by 47.0% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,264 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 724 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Korea Electric Power by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,625 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 466 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC bought a new stake in shares of Korea Electric Power in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Finally, Barclays PLC acquired a new position in shares of Korea Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at $45,000.

Korea Electric Power Company Profile

Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is South Korea's state-owned, integrated electric utility. The company is responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity throughout South Korea and supplies power to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

KEPCO's business includes electricity generation through affiliated companies, power transmission and distribution, and related energy services. Its generation-related subsidiaries include Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, which operates nuclear and hydroelectric facilities, as well as several companies focused on thermal and renewable power generation.

Founded in 1961, KEPCO has also pursued international projects involving power generation, transmission, renewable energy and other energy infrastructure.

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