AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• AngloGold Ashanti PLC has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from seven analysts, with an average 1-year price target of $45.08.
• Institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Vanguard Capital, have recently acquired new positions in AngloGold Ashanti, with approximately 36.09% of the stock currently held by these entities.
• The company announced a quarterly EPS of $0.88 and declared a dividend of $0.125 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 1.14%.

Shares of AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the seven research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $45.08.

Several equities analysts have commented on AU shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 4th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Sunday, June 1st. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $42.00 to $43.50 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, HSBC reiterated a "reduce" rating and issued a $35.00 target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Thursday, April 17th.

AngloGold Ashanti Trading Up 0.8%

AU stock traded up $0.40 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $49.91. 867,225 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,142,385. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $46.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 2.34. The company has a market cap of $20.95 billion, a PE ratio of 16.42 and a beta of 0.48. AngloGold Ashanti has a one year low of $22.45 and a one year high of $51.93.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, May 9th. The mining company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter. AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 21.18% and a net margin of 21.09%. The company had revenue of $1.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. Research analysts predict that AngloGold Ashanti will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. AngloGold Ashanti's payout ratio is currently 16.45%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new position in AngloGold Ashanti in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.