Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) Trading Down 3.9% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Compass Minerals International's stock price has decreased by 3.9%, dropping to $18.46 from a previous close of $19.21.
• Analysts have mixed views, with Deutsche Bank maintaining a "buy" rating and increasing its price target to $22.00, while JPMorgan downgraded the company to "underweight" with a target of $18.00.
• The company recently reported a loss of ($0.39) EPS for the quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate of (0.13), despite a revenue increase of 5.8% year-over-year.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) fell 3.9% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $18.05 and last traded at $18.46. 151,318 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 660,071 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.21.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Compass Minerals International from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Zacks Research raised shares of Compass Minerals International to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Compass Minerals International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "underweight" rating and set a $18.00 price objective (up previously from $15.00) on shares of Compass Minerals International in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $22.00 target price (up previously from $14.00) on shares of Compass Minerals International in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $20.00.

Compass Minerals International Stock Up 0.4%

The firm's 50 day moving average price is $20.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $795.86 million, a PE ratio of -6.54 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.30.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 11th. The basic materials company reported ($0.39) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.13) by ($0.26). Compass Minerals International had a negative net margin of 9.87% and a negative return on equity of 16.70%. The business had revenue of $214.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $208.60 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($1.05) EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Compass Minerals International, Inc. will post -0.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 785,676 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $8,842,000 after purchasing an additional 2,865 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 24.2% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 27,122 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $305,000 after acquiring an additional 5,292 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 42.2% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 199,794 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $2,248,000 after acquiring an additional 59,312 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Compass Minerals International during the fourth quarter worth $1,439,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in Compass Minerals International by 811.2% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 13,413 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 11,941 shares during the last quarter. 99.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.