Evolution Petroleum (NYSE:EPM) Rating Lowered to "Hold" at Northland Capmk

Northland Capmk lowered shares of Evolution Petroleum (NYSE:EPM - Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday, April 23rd,Zacks.com reports.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Evolution Petroleum from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Northland Securities lowered their target price on Evolution Petroleum from $7.00 to $6.50 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 6th.

Evolution Petroleum Price Performance

Shares of Evolution Petroleum stock traded down $0.11 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $4.21. The company's stock had a trading volume of 123,831 shares, compared to its average volume of 178,073. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $4.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $144.21 million, a P/E ratio of 84.22 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Evolution Petroleum has a one year low of $4.10 and a one year high of $6.14.

Evolution Petroleum Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.40%. Evolution Petroleum's payout ratio is presently 960.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Evolution Petroleum during the fourth quarter worth $1,477,000. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 31.0% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 629,696 shares of the company's stock worth $3,293,000 after buying an additional 149,130 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,510,454 shares of the company's stock worth $7,899,000 after buying an additional 89,697 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 30.0% in the 1st quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 305,012 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,580,000 after acquiring an additional 70,450 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 240.1% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 48,336 shares of the company's stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 34,125 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.07% of the company's stock.

About Evolution Petroleum

Evolution Petroleum Corporation, an energy company, engages in the development, production, ownership, and exploitation of onshore oil and gas properties in the United States. The company holds a non-operated interests in the SCOOP and STACK plays located in Central Oklahoma; the Chaveroo Field situated in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico; the Jonah Field located in Sublette County, Wyoming; the Williston Basin situated in Williston, North Dakota; the Barnett Shale field located in North Texas; the Hamilton Dome situated in Hot Springs County, Wyoming; and the Delhi Field, an onshore CO2-EOR project located in northeast Louisiana in Franklin, Madison, and Richland Parishes, as well as small overriding royalty interests in four onshore central Texas wells.