BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (NYSE:BHP) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• The nine covering analysts give BHP a consensus "Hold" rating (1 sell, 7 hold, 1 buy) and an average 12‑month price target of $53.33.
• BHP shares opened at $68.79 and sit within a 12‑month range of $39.73 to $83.21, with 50‑day and 200‑day simple moving averages of $71.89 and $62.18, respectively.
• BHP announced a $1.46 dividend payable March 26 to shareholders of record March 6 (ex‑dividend March 6), which the article reports as a 399.0% yield.

Shares of BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (NYSE:BHP - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Hold" from the nine research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $53.3333.

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of BHP Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of BHP Group in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Zacks Research lowered shares of BHP Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of BHP Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of BHP Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st.

BHP Group Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of BHP Group stock opened at $68.79 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $71.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $62.18. BHP Group has a 12 month low of $39.73 and a 12 month high of $83.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

BHP Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $1.46 dividend. This represents a yield of 399.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BHP Group

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in BHP Group by 22.8% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 13,800,183 shares of the mining company's stock worth $833,117,000 after buying an additional 2,562,747 shares in the last quarter. SIH Partners LLLP grew its holdings in BHP Group by 937.5% in the 3rd quarter. SIH Partners LLLP now owns 1,856,704 shares of the mining company's stock valued at $103,511,000 after buying an additional 1,677,739 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of BHP Group by 264.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,358,585 shares of the mining company's stock worth $82,018,000 after acquiring an additional 985,794 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in shares of BHP Group by 25.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,465,421 shares of the mining company's stock worth $193,197,000 after acquiring an additional 697,316 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in shares of BHP Group during the 3rd quarter worth $27,234,000. 3.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BHP Group Company Profile

BHP Group is an Anglo-Australian natural resources company engaged principally in the exploration, development, production and marketing of commodities. Its core businesses include the extraction and processing of iron ore, copper, metallurgical and thermal coal, nickel and other minerals. BHP operates large-scale mining and processing assets and supplies raw materials used across steelmaking, energy and industrial supply chains.

The company has a global operating footprint with significant assets and projects in Australia and the Americas, and commercial activities that serve customers worldwide.

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