Ballard Power Systems Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NASDAQ:BLDP)

Key Points

• Ballard Power Systems experienced a significant rise in options trading, with a 485% increase in call options, totaling 7,457 bought on a recent trading day.
• The company's stock price rose to $3.55, reflecting a trading volume slightly above its average, amidst a market capitalization of $1.07 billion.
• Ballard posted quarterly earnings of ($0.08) per share, outperforming analysts' estimates, but still reported a negative net margin of 409.35% and expected an EPS of -0.54 for the year.

Ballard Power Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP - Get Free Report) TSE: BLD was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Friday. Stock investors purchased 7,457 call options on the company. This is an increase of 485% compared to the average daily volume of 1,275 call options.

Ballard Power Systems Stock Performance

Shares of BLDP stock traded up $0.68 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $3.55. The stock had a trading volume of 8,279,532 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,273,218. The company has a current ratio of 9.31, a quick ratio of 8.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Ballard Power Systems has a 1-year low of $1.00 and a 1-year high of $3.52. The firm has a market cap of $1.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.58 and a beta of 1.80. The business's fifty day moving average is $2.15 and its 200-day moving average is $1.67.

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP - Get Free Report) TSE: BLD last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 11th. The technology company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.10) by $0.02. Ballard Power Systems had a negative return on equity of 21.52% and a negative net margin of 409.35%.The company had revenue of $17.98 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.94 million. On average, research analysts forecast that Ballard Power Systems will post -0.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on BLDP shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Ballard Power Systems from $1.00 to $1.50 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Roth Capital increased their target price on shares of Ballard Power Systems from $1.25 to $1.80 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Ballard Power Systems from $1.30 to $2.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Lake Street Capital downgraded shares of Ballard Power Systems from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Ballard Power Systems from $1.00 to $1.10 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Reduce" and an average price target of $1.51.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its position in Ballard Power Systems by 21.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 30,459 shares of the technology company's stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 5,482 shares during the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ballard Power Systems by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 396,822 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $437,000 after purchasing an additional 8,265 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its position in shares of Ballard Power Systems by 16.1% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 68,140 shares of the technology company's stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 9,454 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in Ballard Power Systems by 8.5% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 122,914 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $136,000 after buying an additional 9,626 shares during the period. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Ballard Power Systems by 125.2% in the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 23,553 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 13,094 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.02% of the company's stock.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products. The company offers its products for power product comprising for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary, and emerging market, such as material handling, off-road, and other applications.

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