Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Shares Up 3.4% - Should You Buy?

Shares of Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) shot up 3.4% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $176.62 and last traded at $167.77. 699,105 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 13% from the average session volume of 801,614 shares. The stock had previously closed at $162.24.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LEU has been the topic of a number of research reports. Bank of America began coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. They set a "buy" rating and a $160.00 target price on the stock. William Blair started coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock. HC Wainwright initiated coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. They set a "buy" rating and a $300.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup began coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $104.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Centrus Energy in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Centrus Energy currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $146.00.

Centrus Energy Trading Up 1.8%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.93. The company has a 50 day moving average of $97.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $85.78. The stock has a market cap of $2.95 billion, a PE ratio of 39.24 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 for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $1.68. Centrus Energy had a return on equity of 84.09% and a net margin of 16.56%. The company's revenue was up 67.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.38) EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Centrus Energy

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centrus Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in Centrus Energy by 79.7% in the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 9,922 shares of the company's stock worth $658,000 after purchasing an additional 4,402 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Centrus Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $113,000. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Centrus Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $716,000. Canton Hathaway LLC bought a new position in Centrus Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $161,000. Finally, Cape Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Centrus Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.96% of the company's stock.

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.