Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Shares Gap Up - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Centrus Energy's share price gapped up from $363.71 to $414.76, reflecting strong market interest with a trading volume of 713,723 shares.
• Equity analysts have shown increased optimism, with one rating a Strong Buy, while seven others issued Buy ratings, raising the average price target to $202.09.
• Despite a quarterly revenue decrease of 18.3%, the company reported an EPS of $1.59, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of $0.58.

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $363.71, but opened at $414.76. Centrus Energy shares last traded at $413.52, with a volume of 713,723 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on LEU shares. Northland Securities set a $275.00 price objective on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Northland Capmk raised shares of Centrus Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Friday, July 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $220.00 price objective for the company. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Bank of America reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $210.00) on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $202.09.

Centrus Energy Stock Up 8.9%

The firm has a market cap of $7.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.04 and a beta of 1.51. The business's 50 day moving average price is $246.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $172.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.93.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.58 by $1.01. Centrus Energy had a net margin of 16.56% and a return on equity of 84.09%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 18.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.89 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Centrus Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LEU. Granahan Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Centrus Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $13,440,000. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 483.8% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 247,352 shares of the company's stock worth $45,310,000 after acquiring an additional 204,983 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Centrus Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $19,142,000. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Centrus Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $16,324,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 193.0% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 134,382 shares of the company's stock worth $24,616,000 after acquiring an additional 88,513 shares during the period. 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.

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