Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Sets New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $129.12 and last traded at $127.86, with a volume of 3194860 shares. The stock had previously closed at $113.29.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on LEU. HC Wainwright began coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $300.00 price target on the stock. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Centrus Energy to a "sell" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Centrus Energy in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $104.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Craig Hallum initiated coverage on Centrus Energy in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Centrus Energy presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $143.67.

Centrus Energy Price Performance

The stock's fifty day moving average price is $78.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.78 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 2.93, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $1.68. Centrus Energy had a return on equity of 84.09% and a net margin of 16.56%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.38) EPS. The business's revenue was up 67.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Centrus Energy

In related news, SVP John M. A. Donelson sold 3,732 shares of Centrus Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.31, for a total transaction of $359,428.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Centrus Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LEU. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Centrus Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Centrus Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $28,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Centrus Energy by 77.4% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 440 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the period. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Centrus Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Comerica Bank increased its position in Centrus Energy by 589.5% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 655 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 560 shares during the period. 49.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Centrus Energy Company Profile

Centrus Energy Corp. supplies nuclear fuel components and services for the nuclear power industry in the United States, Belgium, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Technical Solutions. The LEU segment sells separative work units (SWU) components of LEU; natural uranium hexafluoride, uranium concentrates, and uranium conversion; and enriched uranium products to utilities that operate nuclear power plants.