Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Shares Up 5.8% - Should You Buy?

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report)'s stock price shot up 5.8% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $186.20 and last traded at $185.86. 812,260 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 6% from the average session volume of 865,406 shares. The stock had previously closed at $175.65.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on LEU. 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. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $205.00 target price (up previously from $145.00) on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Northland Securities began coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Monday. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $205.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Centrus Energy in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $148.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Northland Capmk raised Centrus Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $170.00.

Centrus Energy Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 2.93, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $131.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $96.88. The stock has a market cap of $2.96 billion, a PE ratio of 39.42 and a beta of 1.45.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $1.60 EPS 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.38) EPS. Centrus Energy's revenue was up 67.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Kevin J. Harrill sold 1,728 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.00, for a total transaction of $217,728.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP John M. A. Donelson sold 3,732 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.31, for a total value of $359,428.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centrus Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 29,226 shares of the company's stock worth $1,947,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 77.4% in the 4th 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 last quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC now owns 10,147 shares of the company's stock worth $676,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 16.2% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the company's stock worth $93,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 4,504 shares of the company's stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. 49.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.