Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Hits New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $139.00 and last traded at $135.01, with a volume of 216419 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $124.58.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on LEU. William Blair began coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $160.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised Centrus Energy to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Craig Hallum assumed coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "buy" rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, HC Wainwright started coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $300.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Centrus Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $146.00.

Centrus Energy Trading Down 3.3%

The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $82.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $81.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a current ratio of 2.93 and a quick ratio of 2.46. The firm has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a PE ratio of 30.91 and a beta of 1.37.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. Centrus Energy's revenue for the quarter was up 67.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted ($0.38) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Centrus Energy

In other Centrus Energy news, CFO Kevin J. Harrill sold 1,728 shares of Centrus Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.00, for a total value of $217,728.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP John M. A. Donelson sold 3,732 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.31, for a total transaction of $359,428.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centrus Energy

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Centrus Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Centrus Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised 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 acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in shares of Centrus Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Comerica Bank raised its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 589.5% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 655 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 560 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.96% of the company's stock.

About Centrus Energy

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.