BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP) Raised to Buy at Kepler Capital Markets

Key Points

• Kepler Capital Markets upgraded BW LPG from a "hold" to a "buy" rating, though analyst opinions remain mixed (one Buy, one Hold, one Sell) and MarketBeat's consensus is still "Hold."
• The company reported a quarter-beating result with $0.69 EPS vs. $0.60 expected and revenue of $732.4 million versus a $217.2 million consensus, delivering a net margin of 6.76% and ROE of 12.61%.
• Shares trade near their 52-week high (opened at $18.76 vs. a $18.84 high), with a market cap of $2.84 billion, a P/E of 11.73 and a conservative balance sheet (debt-to-equity 0.42).

BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Kepler Capital Markets from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday.

BWLP has been the topic of several other reports. Dnb Carnegie downgraded shares of BW LPG from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Weiss Ratings restated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of BW LPG in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of BW LPG from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, April 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, BW LPG has an average rating of "Hold".

BW LPG Stock Performance

Shares of BWLP stock opened at $18.76 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.53. The company has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.73 and a beta of 1.80. The company's 50 day moving average price is $17.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.78. BW LPG has a 52 week low of $9.83 and a 52 week high of $18.84.

BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $732.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $217.18 million. BW LPG had a net margin of 6.76% and a return on equity of 12.61%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BW LPG

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in BW LPG during the third quarter worth $36,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in BW LPG in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of BW LPG in the 2nd quarter valued at about $47,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets acquired a new position in shares of BW LPG during the 3rd quarter worth about $62,000. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. increased its stake in shares of BW LPG by 99.3% during the 3rd quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. now owns 4,541 shares of the company's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 2,263 shares during the last quarter.

About BW LPG

BW LPG NYSE: BWLP is a pure‐play owner and operator of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. The company's core business centers on the maritime transportation of LPG, predominantly propane and butane, under both time‐ and voyage‐charter arrangements. Its fleet comprises pressurized and semi‐refrigerated vessels designed to meet the specific requirements of LPG producers, traders and end‐users around the world.

Headquartered in Singapore, BW LPG serves a global customer base, with commercial offices in key energy hubs including Houston, London, Dubai and Tokyo.

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