AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• AngloGold Ashanti PLC has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from six analysts, with a twelve-month price objective of $49.60.
• The company recently announced a semi-annual dividend of $0.80 per share, an increase from the previous $0.69, reflecting a payout ratio of 13.30%.
• AngloGold Ashanti's latest quarterly earnings reported $1.25 earnings per share, which fell short of analyst expectations of $1.31, though revenue exceeded estimates at $2.45 billion.

AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the six ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $49.60.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Scotiabank reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Friday, August 1st.

Institutional Trading of AngloGold Ashanti

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 30.3% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,023 shares of the mining company's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 238 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.09% of the company's stock.

AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

AU traded down $0.2180 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $54.6120. 3,137,205 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,761,803. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. AngloGold Ashanti has a one year low of $22.45 and a one year high of $59.19. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $50.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.37.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The mining company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.31 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 22.54% and a net margin of 23.60%. As a group, research analysts predict that AngloGold Ashanti will post 3.83 EPS for the current year.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, August 22nd will be issued a $0.80 dividend. This is an increase from AngloGold Ashanti's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.69. This represents a dividend yield of 610.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 22nd. AngloGold Ashanti's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.30%.

About AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.