BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) Given Consensus Rating of "Buy" by Brokerages

Shares of BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP - Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of "Buy" from the six ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $53.00.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of BHP Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Clarkson Capital raised BHP Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. WFA Asset Management Corp acquired a new position in shares of BHP Group during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Costello Asset Management INC bought a new position in BHP Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new position in BHP Group during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in BHP Group in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in shares of BHP Group in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.79% of the company's stock.

BHP Group Stock Up 1.0%

BHP stock traded up $0.50 during trading on Thursday, reaching $50.40. The stock had a trading volume of 404,334 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,542,921. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $47.67 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.98. The company has a market capitalization of $127.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.45 and a beta of 0.86. BHP Group has a 1-year low of $39.73 and a 1-year high of $63.21.

BHP Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th were paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.8%. BHP Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.77%.

About BHP Group

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.