AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,760,000 shares, an increase of 24.7% from the May 15th total of 4,620,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,260,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days. Currently, 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Sunday, June 1st. Scotiabank lifted their target price on AngloGold Ashanti from $42.00 to $43.50 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Roth Capital began coverage on AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Thursday, June 12th. They set a "buy" rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $33.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, AngloGold Ashanti currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $43.08.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Whittier Trust Co. acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 210.6% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,174 shares of the mining company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 796 shares during the period. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AngloGold Ashanti Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:AU traded down $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $47.89. The company had a trading volume of 6,126,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,694,078. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 2.34. AngloGold Ashanti has a 1-year low of $22.45 and a 1-year high of $51.11. The firm has a market cap of $20.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.73.

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

AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend

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

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.