Andersons (NASDAQ:ANDE) Hits New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Shares of The Andersons hit a new 52-week high, trading as high as $71.15 (last $70.56) on volume of ~205,000 shares and were up about 4.2% during the session.
• Several analysts have recently upgraded the stock (Wall Street Zen to Buy; BMO raised its price target to $75), leaving a MarketBeat consensus of Moderate Buy with a $68.33 target.
• Andersons reported an EPS beat ($2.04 vs. $1.56 expected) despite revenue falling 18.8% YoY, and declared a $0.20 quarterly dividend (annualized yield ~1.1%, payout ratio ~28.6%).

Shares of The Andersons, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANDE - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $71.15 and last traded at $70.5630, with a volume of 204994 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $67.79.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Andersons from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Andersons from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Andersons in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Andersons in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Andersons currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $68.33.

Andersons Trading Up 4.2%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The business's 50-day moving average is $62.21 and its 200 day moving average is $51.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.06 and a beta of 0.74.

Andersons (NASDAQ:ANDE - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The basic materials company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $2.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.69 billion. Andersons had a net margin of 0.87% and a return on equity of 7.76%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.31 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Andersons, Inc. will post 3.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Andersons Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 1st. Andersons's payout ratio is 28.57%.

Insider Transactions at Andersons

In other news, VP Anne G. Rex sold 2,624 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.16, for a total transaction of $170,979.84. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 23,829 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,552,697.64. This represents a 9.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director John T. Stout, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total transaction of $275,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 25,941 shares in the company, valued at $1,426,755. This represents a 16.16% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 7,824 shares of company stock worth $459,980 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 4.30% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Andersons

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Rubric Capital Management LP bought a new position in Andersons in the fourth quarter valued at about $53,469,000. Ophir Asset Management Pty Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Andersons during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,746,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Andersons by 354.7% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 731,019 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $38,868,000 after purchasing an additional 570,245 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in Andersons by 82.1% in the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 637,342 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $33,875,000 after purchasing an additional 287,304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its position in Andersons by 162.8% in the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 438,219 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $17,445,000 after buying an additional 271,451 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.06% of the company's stock.

Andersons Company Profile

The Andersons, Inc operates as a diversified agriculture company offering a broad range of products and services to farmers, retailers and industrial customers. Through its Grain Group, the company purchases, stores, merchandises and transports corn, soybeans and other commodities, while its Renewables Group produces ethanol and distillers grains at multiple plants in the U.S. The Rail Group provides locomotive leasing, railcar repair and related maintenance services, and the Horticulture Group supplies turf, specialty and horticultural products to landscaping professionals and consumer lawn and garden retailers.

Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, The Andersons has grown from a regional grain elevator operator into an integrated agribusiness platform.

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